KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, told the UN Security Council on Monday that Afghanistan-based “terrorist groups” armed with abandoned and modern weapons pose a serious threat to regional peace and security.
Speaking at an open debate on small arms, Ahmad said militant groups, including Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), have used advanced weaponry against Pakistani civilians and security forces, resulting in thousands of deaths.
“Pakistan is seriously concerned about the presence of stockpiles of sophisticated arms and ammunition in Afghanistan, as noted in the Secretary General’s reports,” he said. “These weapons pose a direct threat to neighboring countries.”
Ahmad urged the international community to strengthen efforts to prevent armed groups in Afghanistan from accessing illicit weapons and to ensure that the Taliban meet their international obligations.
“The international community needs to step up its efforts and plug gaps in its response to effectively address these threats to international and regional peace and security,” he added.
The statement comes amid ongoing tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban, following intense border clashes last month that killed dozens of people, including civilians, before a ceasefire was reached in Doha on October 19.
Two rounds of talks in Istanbul following the ceasefire produced no results. Pakistan urged the Taliban to prevent the TTP and its affiliated groups from operating from Afghan territory, while the Taliban rejected the demand as “unrealistic,” stating that the TTP is Pakistan’s internal matter.
Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in militant attacks in recent years and has repeatedly accused the Taliban of harboring groups like the TTP, providing training and advanced weapons for cross-border attacks. The Taliban denies these claims, insisting it will not allow Afghan territory to be used against other countries.
