New York July 8, 2025:
Pakistan has raised serious concerns at the United Nations, warning that Afghanistan is turning into a hub for global terrorism. The country’s envoy, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, told the UN General Assembly that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terror outfits are thriving in Afghan territory, posing a threat beyond the region.
“We cannot allow Afghanistan to become a launchpad for attacks across borders,” the ambassador said. He described the TTP as a global threat, not just a regional one, citing its growing coordination with other groups like Daesh, Al-Qaeda, and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Ambassador Iftikhar revealed that the TTP currently has about 6,000 active fighters inside Afghanistan. He added that these militants are increasingly equipped with modern weapons and advanced tools, allowing them to launch more sophisticated attacks inside Pakistan, including several in just the past two weeks.
He also pointed to a recent clash near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border where 30 militants were killed. These militants, allegedly backed by foreign actors, were attempting to cross into Pakistan through North Waziristan.
“There’s clear evidence of collaboration between the TTP and other violent groups,” he warned. He said their main goal is to target strategic infrastructure and disrupt national development projects.
The ambassador stressed that terrorism from Afghan soil threatens all regional peace efforts. He urged the international community to take concrete action and prevent extremist groups from gaining more ground.
He also addressed the burden Pakistan continues to bear due to instability in Afghanistan, including hosting millions of Afghan refugees. He called for global support in reviving the Afghan economy, unfreezing its assets, and supporting regional trade routes like CPEC, CASA-1000, and TAPI.
Closing his remarks, Iftikhar said that a stable Afghanistan is free of terror and inclusive of all groups that remains vital for lasting peace. But this, he stressed, can only happen through sustained international engagement.
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