KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Several members of the United Nations Security Council warned on Monday of growing terrorist threats originating from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, saying militant groups operating there continue to threaten regional and global security.
Speaking at the council’s meeting on Afghanistan, Pakistan’s UN envoy, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said terrorism originating from Afghan soil represents a “grave threat” not only to neighboring countries but also to the wider region and beyond.
Ahmad said militant groups, including Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, Baloch Liberation Army, Islamic State Khorasan Province, and Al-Qaeda, maintain safe havens in Afghanistan from where they carry out cross-border infiltration, violent attacks, and suicide bombings.
He said Pakistan had expected the Taliban to act as a responsible government after returning to power in 2021 and help move Afghanistan toward stability. Islamabad had supported Afghanistan through visa facilitation, transit access, and efforts to reintegrate the country into regional and global engagement, he added.
However, Ahmad said the Taliban had failed to meet international expectations to protect human rights, form an inclusive government, and counter terrorism.
“Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks planned, financed, and orchestrated from Afghan soil under the Taliban’s watch,” he told the council, adding that thousands of Pakistanis had been killed in such attacks since the Taliban returned to power.
He warned that the effects of militancy in Afghanistan could extend beyond Pakistan and said Islamabad would continue “defensive measures” to protect its citizens and territory.
The United States echoed the concerns, with representative Mike Waltz highlighting Washington’s priorities of protecting U.S. citizens, mitigating terrorist threats, and securing the release of those detained by the Taliban.
“We must condemn the Taliban for its engagement in hostage diplomacy,” Waltz said, referring to the detention of foreign nationals.
Russia’s UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, said the continued presence of ISIS-K in Afghanistan is a concern for Moscow. He warned that militants are seeking opportunities to destabilize Afghanistan and the broader region, noting that ISIS fighters continue to receive external financial support and recruit new members. “The situation is also exacerbated by the unclear fate of weapons abandoned by NATO forces,” he said.
China’s UN representative also warned that militant groups, including ISIS-K, Al-Qaeda, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the BLA, and TTP, remain active in Afghanistan and pose a serious threat to neighboring countries.
Afghanistan’s UN envoy, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, said the Taliban have provided a “permissive environment” for international terrorist groups, which threaten both the Afghan people and regional security. He called for counterterrorism measures to be genuine, non-selective, and grounded in a comprehensive strategy consistent with international law.
“Combating terrorism in Afghanistan can only be achieved through a responsible, legitimate, and inclusive government, one that reflects the will of the Afghan people and honors Afghanistan’s international obligation,” Faiq added.
Earlier, briefing the council, Georgette Gagnon, acting head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, said that while the Taliban have been relatively effective against ISIS-K, neighboring countries remain concerned about extremism originating from Afghanistan.
“The de facto authorities still have significant work to do to convince the world that they are serious about fulfilling their counter-terrorism obligations,” Gagnon said.
The Taliban have not yet commented on the latest remarks. The group has previously denied the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and rejected claims that it allows such entities to operate or threaten neighboring countries.
