Pakistan Calls for Evidence‑Based UN Reporting Amid Rising Militant Threat from Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan warned on Monday that an “alarming rise” in militancy originating from Afghanistan demands evidence‑based, balanced United Nations reporting on regional security, emphasizing that terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil continue to jeopardize peace and security in the area.

Pakistani Ambassador to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, made the statements following the Security Council’s unanimous renewal of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) mandate.

Islamabad has grown increasingly concerned about cross‑border militancy that it attributes to Afghan territory, citing attacks on Pakistani civilians, security forces, and infrastructure that have strained bilateral ties, sparked border clashes, and led to Pakistani airstrikes targeting militant hideouts within Afghanistan.

‘Pakistan consistently underscores that one of the most severe challenges in Afghanistan is the alarming surge in terrorism emanating from the country, directly threatening its immediate neighbors, especially Pakistan,’ Ahmad informed the Security Council after the vote.

‘This resolution reflects the Council’s serious concern over the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, which continue to threaten international peace and security,’ he said. ‘It is particularly worrisome that elements within the Taliban are actively collaborating with various terrorist factions and providing them safe havens.’

Ahmad noted that the Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) — including its Majid Brigade faction — as well as Daesh, Al Qaeda, and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) were operating within Afghanistan.

‘Many of these terrorist groups are responsible for cross‑border attacks that target Pakistani civilians and law‑enforcement personnel, as well as critical infrastructure and public venues,’ he said.

Pakistan has witnessed a sharp escalation in militant violence in recent years, especially in its western and southwestern border regions adjacent to Afghanistan. Pakistani officials have repeatedly accused the Taliban‑led Kabul administration of failing to prevent groups like the TTP from using Afghan soil to launch attacks — a claim the Taliban denies.

Ahmad asserted that UNAMA plays a pivotal role in urging Afghanistan to fulfill its international obligations, especially in counterterrorism, human rights, and inclusive governance.

He also emphasized that the mission should foster conditions conducive to the return and reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons.

These remarks coincide with Pakistan’s ongoing deportation campaign launched in late 2023 that targets undocumented foreign nationals, predominantly Afghans, while neighboring Iran has also repatriated large numbers of Afghan migrants in recent years.

The Pakistani envoy called on UNAMA to deliver objective assessments of Afghanistan’s political, security, and socio‑economic landscape, including risks linked to illicit trade, weapons proliferation, and aid diversion.

‘UNAMA’s reporting must be evidence‑based, particularly in areas where terrorist groups maintain sanctuaries and access is challenging for UN personnel,’ Ahmad said.

These comments appear to reference recent UNAMA reports that have raised concerns about civilian casualties resulting from Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan.

Pakistani officials have contested these findings, asserting that their forces employed precision‑guided munitions and took measures to minimize civilian harm while striking militant hideouts.

‘We must remain cautious of spoilers who seek to undermine regional peace and propagate information that aligns with Taliban narratives,’ Ahmad said. ‘UNAMA must ensure fair and balanced reporting and account for the legitimate security concerns of Afghanistan’s immediate neighbors, which face serious threats emanating from Afghan soil.’

Ahmad also voiced concern over the extended vacancy of the UN special representative and head of UNAMA, urging UN Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres to appoint a successor promptly.

He said Pakistan hopes the mission will continue to play a constructive role in advancing long‑term peace, stability, and development in Afghanistan, helping create conditions for a nation at peace with itself and its neighbors.

Source link