Pakistan warns UN of Afghan terror safe havens
WASHINGTON: Pakistan on Wednesday informed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that multiple terrorist groups continued to operate from safe havens inside Afghanistan, posing a growing threat to regional security. Speaking at a UNSC
Pakistan has raised fresh concerns at the United Nations Security Council over what it says are terrorist safe havens in Afghanistan, warning that the threat continues to grow and remains a danger to regional security.
At a Security Council briefing on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said multiple militant groups were still operating from Afghan territory. The remarks were reported by Dawn.
The warning comes at a time when Pakistan says cross-border militancy remains one of its most serious security challenges. In his address, Ahmad stressed that the international community should keep focus on terrorism in the region and not allow the issue to be overlooked.
He also used the platform to raise Pakistan’s long-standing concerns over Jammu and Kashmir. The Council met on the seventh anniversary of India’s August 5, 2019 decision to revoke the region’s special constitutional status, a move Pakistan has consistently criticised.
Ahmad described the changes imposed that day as the start of a new phase of repression against Kashmiris and accused India of state terrorism in the disputed territory. He said the world should adopt zero tolerance for such actions and should not let counterterrorism be used as a cover to suppress what Pakistan calls legitimate self-determination movements.
The Kashmir reference was part of a broader intervention focused mainly on Afghanistan-based militant networks. Pakistan has increasingly tied that concern to its wider diplomacy, including talks with Washington.
That backdrop includes the fourth US-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue, held in Washington on Tuesday, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fighting terrorist organisations and strengthening security cooperation. The dialogue underlined continued engagement between Islamabad and Washington on counterterrorism issues.
Ahmad said sustained global counterterrorism efforts had reduced the capabilities of groups such as Islamic State, but he argued that the threat has not disappeared and continues to evolve. His comments reflect Pakistan’s view that militant violence in and around Afghanistan remains central to regional stability.
The latest remarks add to a broader pattern of Pakistani diplomacy at the UN, where Islamabad has repeatedly sought international attention for Afghanistan-linked security risks while also pressing its position on Kashmir.
For Pakistan, the message at the Security Council was twofold: the threat from militant groups inside Afghanistan remains urgent, and regional disputes such as Kashmir cannot be separated from the wider debate on peace and security.
FAQ
Why did Pakistan speak about Afghanistan at the UN Security Council?
Pakistan said multiple terrorist groups were still using safe havens inside Afghanistan and warned that this poses a threat to regional security.
What else did Pakistan raise in the briefing?
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad also raised Pakistan’s concerns over Jammu and Kashmir and criticised India’s 2019 move to revoke the region’s special status.
What recent diplomatic engagement did Pakistan mention?
The remarks came after the fourth US-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue in Washington, where both countries reaffirmed cooperation against terrorism.
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