Pakistan challenges Taliban over TTP support

Pakistan has urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to take decisive action against terrorist organisations operating from Afghan territory, expressing serious concerns over their alleged links with militant groups targeting Pakistan.

The demand was raised by Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations during an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.

Addressing the session, Counsellor Muhammad Jawad Ajmal said terrorism remained one of Afghanistan’s most pressing challenges. He highlighted the presence of several militant organisations, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Majeed Brigade, ISIL-K and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), along with their affiliates.

Ajmal also raised concerns about alleged links between the Afghan Taliban administration and these groups. He pointed to the involvement of external actors supporting militant proxies operating against Pakistan and other neighbouring countries.

He said the Taliban authorities’ failure to openly condemn these organisations had raised serious questions about their alleged complicity and support.

Highlighting the human cost of terrorism, the Pakistani diplomat said more than 4,700 Pakistanis had been killed in terrorist attacks originating from Afghan territory over the past three years.

Referring to Pakistan’s military action on March 16, Ajmal said the country had precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure, including drone and ammunition storage facilities allegedly used by the TTP to attack Pakistani civilians.

He maintained that Pakistan could not remain silent in the face of continued attacks on its people and national security. He reaffirmed Islamabad’s right to defend itself against threats whenever necessary, in accordance with international law.

Ajmal called on the Afghan Taliban to fulfil their international obligations and prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to carry out attacks. He also reiterated Pakistan’s support for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan living in harmony with its neighbours.

During his address, the counsellor also criticised restrictions imposed on Afghan women and girls, particularly the denial of education and other fundamental freedoms.

He said such policies violated basic human dignity and contradicted Islamic principles, values and traditions. He also referred to the Islamabad Declaration adopted during the ninth Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ministerial Conference on Women, hosted by Pakistan in July, which expressed concern over restrictions on Afghan women and girls.

Ajmal further highlighted Pakistan’s longstanding role in hosting millions of Afghan refugees over several decades, often without sufficient international assistance.

He said Pakistan continued to support vulnerable Afghans within its available resources but stressed that the international community must share responsibility for addressing the refugee situation.