Pakistan has warned the UN Security Council of a significant and escalating threat posed by terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan, including the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Majeed Brigade. Ambassador Munir Akram, speaking during a debate on the threat of Daesh, emphasized that these groups pose a danger not only to Afghanistan and Pakistan but to the entire region and beyond.
Addressing a debate on the 20th biannual report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by Da’esh to international peace and security, Ambassador Akram highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing counter-terrorism efforts against Daesh, TTP, and Majeed Brigade, stressing the need for the international community to address the safe havens these groups enjoy within Afghanistan. He urged the Security Council to take decisive action against these elements.
“This threat of Daesh, TTP and Majeed Brigade is a threat not only to Afghanistan and Pakistan but to the entire region and beyond,” Akram said.
While acknowledging the decline of Al-Qaeda’s core leadership in Afghanistan, largely attributed to Pakistan’s efforts, Akram noted the emergence of Al-Qaeda affiliates in other regions and the resurgence of Daesh franchises in Afghanistan and the Sahel region, following their suppression in Syria and Iraq.
“We must sincerely address the terrorist threats from Afghanistan,” Akram said.
Ambassador Akram also called for a comprehensive approach to counter-terrorism, emphasizing the need to address the root causes of terrorism, including poverty, injustice, unresolved conflicts, foreign occupation, and the denial of self-determination. He specifically mentioned the situations in Kashmir and Palestine as examples requiring attention.
He further highlighted the need for reform within the UN’s counter-terrorism architecture and sanctions regimes to effectively address current challenges, including the use of cyber tools and cryptocurrencies by terrorist organizations for radicalization, financing, and propaganda. The Ambassador also called for a broader approach to counter-terrorism that addresses the rise of violent extremist groups beyond those traditionally associated with Islamic extremism.
