Pakistan warns of self-defence response to Afghan terror threats

Pakistan informed the UN Security Council on Wednesday that it would respond to terrorist threats originating from Afghanistan in self-defense as necessary and in accordance with international law. Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad made the statement during a Security Council meeting addressing the situation in Afghanistan, five years after the Taliban took control of Kabul.

Ahmad stated, "Pakistan cannot remain passive in the face of this terrorist onslaught. We will respond in self-defense when needed and in compliance with international law, defending ourselves against anyone attempting to harm our citizens and national security."

He disclosed that over 4,700 Pakistanis had been killed by terrorism originating from Afghanistan within the past three years. Ahmad criticized Kabul for failing to take concrete and verifiable action against terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil. He further blamed external actors, spoilers who support proxies within Afghanistan to target Pakistan and neighboring countries.

A recent UN Secretary-General report highlighted the persistent presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, alongside deteriorating conditions for women and girls, exclusionary governance, economic pressures, and declining capacity to provide basic services. These factors contribute to the country's ongoing instability. The report identified the Taliban's denial of women's rights and authoritarian political system as significant concerns, impeding Afghanistan's reintegration into the international community.

Despite reservations regarding certain Taliban policies, Pakistan has supported Afghanistan's stabilization through engagement, humanitarian aid, and regional cooperation. Ahmad noted that at least 687 humanitarian cargo trucks entered Afghanistan from Pakistan during the reporting period. However, he lamented that the international community's hopes and expectations from five years ago had not been met, instead evolving into disillusionment and disappointment.

The ambassador emphasized that terrorism had been at the heart of Afghanistan's problems, tracing its roots to the Taliban's deep connection with terrorist groups. He criticized the Taliban for not taking action against these groups and warned about the presence of weapons left behind by international forces and illegal arms trafficking.

The United States echoed similar concerns, with Ambassador Mike Waltz focusing on the detention of American citizens, terrorism, and restrictions on women and girls. Waltz urged the Security Council to condemn the Taliban's detention of American citizens and demand their release. He also criticized the Taliban's hosting of terrorist groups and cited UN reports on arbitrary arrests, torture, ill-treatment, and extrajudicial killings, as well as the continued ban on girls' education beyond the sixth grade and restrictions on Afghan women working for the UN.

Russia advocated for engagement over pressure in Afghanistan, arguing that genuine, pragmatic dialogue with Afghanistan was the only viable path forward. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia stated that there was no alternative to engaging with Afghanistan, recalling that predictions of collapse or a "black hole" country had not come to fruition.

He attributed the country's relative stability to the Taliban's focus on development, regional cooperation, and building a self-reliant state. Nebenzia called for trust-based dialogue with Afghan authorities, emphasizing that the language of pressure and blackmail should be avoided.