Terrorism originating from Afghanistan remains the “gravest threat” to Pakistan’s national security, a senior Pakistani diplomat told the UN Security Council on Wednesday, urging the Afghan Taliban authorities to fulfill their international counterterrorism obligations.
“The TTP (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan), with nearly 6,000 fighters, is the largest UN-designated terrorist group operating from Afghan soil,” said Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, during a debate on the situation in Afghanistan.
Ambassador Ahmad stated that Pakistan had thwarted numerous infiltration attempts by TTP and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) terrorists from across the Afghan border. He noted that these militants were equipped with advanced military-grade weapons — much of it left behind by departing U.S. forces.
“These efforts come at a heavy price – huge sacrifices by our valiant security forces and civilians,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said, referring to the martyrdom of 12 Pakistani soldiers in a single incident just this month while they were defending the borders.
