Pakistan’s envoy to the United Nations warned the Security Council that terrorism originating from Afghanistan poses the most serious threat to regional and global security, pointing to the presence of thousands of fighters from multiple groups operating there.
“The situation in Afghanistan remains precarious, with some 2,000 fighters. ISIL-K poses the most serious threat,” Asim Iftikhar Ahmed said.
He told a council meeting on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts that “terrorism within and from Afghanistan is the single most important threat to that country, to the region, and the world.”
He said while the Taliban administration has fought the Islamic State group’s local affiliate, ISIL-Khorasan, the presence of other groups such as the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch militant factions, and what he called Fitna al-Khawarij remains unaddressed.
“For Pakistan, the danger is grave and immediate,” Ahmed said. “The TTP, with nearly 6,000 fighters, is the largest UN-designated terrorist group operating from Afghan soil. With safe havens close to our borders, it directly threatens our national security.”
He added there is credible evidence of collaboration between the TTP, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and the Majid Brigade, including shared training camps. He said these groups have carried out attacks targeting Pakistan’s infrastructure, economic projects and civilians.
Taliban have often rejected the presence of the TTP and Daesh in Afghanistan, but a UN monitoring group has reported that TTP has almost 6,000 fighters in Afghanistan.
