Pakistan Demands Action Against TTP from Taliban at UN Debate

APP

New York: A senior Pakistani diplomat has informed the UN Security Council that the Taliban government has not taken “decisive” actions to stop cross-border terrorist attacks by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), resulting in significant civilian and military casualties.

“The highest priority for the international community, Afghanistan’s neighbors, and Afghanistan itself is the elimination of terrorism within and from Afghanistan,” stated Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, during a debate on Afghanistan’s situation.

Pakistan, he said, has consistently urged the Taliban at high levels to act decisively against TTP by ending their attacks, disarming their fighters, and handing over TTP militants to Pakistan.

“Unfortunately, despite promises, no significant action has been taken. 

TTP safe havens remain near Pakistan’s borders, and cross-border attacks have continued, including one by a TTP associate that killed several Chinese engineers working on the Dasu hydro power project,” the Pakistani envoy reported to the 15-member Council.

He emphasized that the impunity enjoyed by some terrorist groups within Afghanistan threatens Afghanistan’s neighbors and the international community.

Ambassador Akram urged the Security Council to press the Taliban government to sever ties with the TTP, prevent cross-border attacks against Pakistan, disarm TTP terrorists, and hand over TTP leaders to Pakistan.

At the outset, he noted that Pakistan has consistently advocated for sustained engagement with the Afghan interim authorities to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan.

Welcoming the Taliban’s decision to participate in the upcoming UN-sponsored meeting in Doha, Ambassador Akram stressed the need for clear objectives from both the international community and the Afghan interim Government. “Unless we know where we are going, we will never get there,” he added.

For its part, the Pakistani envoy said the international community must assist the 23 million Afghans in urgent need of aid and take measures to strengthen Afghanistan’s economy, including reviving the national banking system and restoring commercial activity.

He also emphasized that the Taliban must adhere to their international obligations, noting global concerns about restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan. 

“These restrictions do not conform with international law or the tenets of Islam,” he said, calling for the Afghan Interim Government to ensure women’s and girls’ rights to education, work, and other human rights.

Ambassador Akram highlighted Pakistan’s close ethnic, historical, religious, linguistic, and cultural ties with Afghanistan. “Pakistan has a national compulsion to promote peace, stability, and development in Afghanistan. We will continue to work at all levels – bilateral, regional, international, and with the UN – to achieve these objectives.”

Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), opened the debate. She noted that the upcoming meeting in Doha, the third in this format, is scheduled in nine days, with the Taliban preparing to attend.

“We hope that in Doha, key stakeholders will meet, reinforce engagement principles, and agree on steps to alleviate Afghan uncertainties,” she said, cautioning that Doha has generated expectations that cannot be met in a single meeting.

Otunbayeva reiterated that engagement with Afghanistan does not equate to legitimization or normalization. While the Taliban have maintained political stability, severe restrictions on women remain, and there is little space for internal dissent.

She stressed the need for internal political legitimacy and noted that despite over $7 billion in humanitarian assistance, Afghanistan remains plagued by massive poverty.