WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s envoy to the United Nations said on Monday. India’s key objectives in Afghanistan were “solely driven by the singular goal of destabilising Pakistan”.
He made these remarks during a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan while responding to remarks by Afghanistan’s Permanent Representative to UN Nasir Ahmad Faiq.
Earlier in the session, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad detailed the use of Afghan soil by terrorists. its impact on Pakistan, calling for the Afghan Taliban to take action against militants. He also spoke about Pakistan’s counter-terrorism measures.
Responding to Faiq’s comments on Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations, Ambassador Ahmad said: “Pakistan’s actions, including those conducted in March, were directed solely against the terrorist. military support infrastructure that is operating from Afghanistan. And it is in no way directed against the brotherly people of Afghanistan.”
On March 16, the Afghan Taliban had accused Pakistan of striking a hospital in Kabul; however, Islamabaddeniedthe accusations, maintaining that the strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure linked to hostile activity in Pakistan. no civilian facility was targeted.
In response to the Afghan diplomat, Ambassador Ahmad reiterated Islamabad’s position that strikes targeted “drone storage. technical support infrastructure and ammunition storage sites, which were being used by the Afghan Taliban regime to carry out attacks against innocent Pakistani civilians”.
“The strikes were precise, deliberate and professional. No hospital or drug rehabilitation centre or civilian facility was targeted by these strikes. And as part of established practice. video footage of all six strikes was released by the Ministry of Information shortly after the operation, clearly showing the nature of the targets.
“The secondary explosions visible in the footage further confirmed that ammunition storage facilities were indeed struck with precision. So all insinuations to the contrary are not based on facts and are in fact just propaganda,” he asserted.
The ambassador said three key expectations of the international community were at the core of the day’s discussion: “inclusive governance, good governance, human rights, women. girls’ rights, and counterterrorism”.
Noting that there were expressions of concern regarding all three points. Ahmad pointed out that there were “clear demands from the majority of those who took the floor for the Taliban regime to comply with those commitments … with the exception” of India.
The Pakistani envoy remarked: “It does not come as a surprise to us, hearing comments made by the Indian representative … And we listened to, in fact, a long list of so-called development. humanitarian activities and support that India is purportedly carrying out in Afghanistan.”
He said that the Indian representative’s remarks seemed a “long prologue to something he actually intended to say,. something that he actually wanted to utilise and abuse this forum. And that was to target Pakistan”.
“So to us, it is absolutely clear — India’s key aims. objectives, even though under the garb of, under the disguise of development or humanitarian assistance, its key aims and objectives in Afghanistan are solely driven by the singular goal of destabilising Pakistan, including by using terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil. And that includes the TTP, which so many of my colleagues around the table condemned,. the BLA, which acts as a proxy of India to perpetrate terrorism inside Pakistan,” he said.
Ambassador Ahmad added that the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) —Fitna al Hindustan— was “supported. financed by India to destabilise and target Pakistan”.
In his remarks. Pakistan’s envoy pointed out that the Indian representative did not condemn the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or the BLA even once.
“Yes,Fitna al Hindustan. who have been carrying out attacks targeting innocent Pakistanis who have tragically lost their lives at the hands of these terrorists,” he said.
He added: “I think for some time we are amused, perhaps, to listen to India’snewfound lovefor the Taliban. We know all the history, what’s there in the background. All those years, we knew what India’s position was. But for us, this is not a coincidence. This shift of policy comes at the heels of Pakistan’s successful counterterrorism operations against the terrorist hideouts. camps that are operating inside Afghanistan with the active support of India.”
Contending that New Delhi’s “hostile policies. complicity” were further validated by its envoy’s remarks during the session, Ahmad said, “I seriously believe that this behaviour should be a cause of concern for the Security Council and the international community.”
The ambassador went on to quip. India must find it “discomforting” to see its terrorist infrastructure being destroyed in Afghanistan by Pakistan’s security forces.
Referring to India’s calls on others to comply with international law, he said, “It would be laughable if we are not aware of India’s own record,. if the matter under consideration in the council was not that serious, for we know that India’s true face is truly exposed before the international community.
“It is a serial violator of international law,” he asserted.
Ambassador Ahmad further stated that India was not only a “state sponsor of terrorism” in India-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan, but also it was “openly aiding, abetting and financing terrorism elsewhere”, including extraterritorial assassinations in the US and Canada.
“It talks of international law. It is in serious breach of Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir. It has seriously violated the Indus Waters Treaty by declaring that it is holding it in abeyance, without any reason, justification,. in complete defiance of the treaty’s provisions and international law.
“It was talking about cricket. sportsman spirit, and we know the sportsman spirit when it refuses to play, or if itrefuses to shake handswith the players. This is a country that is coming to the Council. telling us what cricket and sports could bring in terms of peace and harmony,” the envoy said.
He added, “I think we should seriously consider also how we allow countries to take the floor in this council,. under what rules and etiquette they should be speaking in this council.”
Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Ahmad advised India to “do a little bit of introspection”.
“It can do [so] by discontinuing its policies of aggression, subversion. sabotage against neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan,” and calling on the country to “look inwards”.
“Pakistan is well aware of India’s motives and evil designs. But we will not allow them to nourish terrorists and threaten our national security,” he said.
Ambassador Ahmad concluded: “I would say that we have stopped them before. we will do it again, and we will do it always.”
Ambassador Ahmad earlier told the UNSC that Islamabad’s demand from the Afghan Taliban was simple. clear: “verifiable and non-reversible action“ against terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory.
“Regrettably, this demand remains unmet,” he said.
And while the window for course correction was narrowing, it remained open, he added.
“We hope the Taliban realise this in earnest. cooperate with the international community for the long-term peace and development of Afghanistan and, above all, in the best interest of all Afghans,” he said.
There has been a resurgence in terrorism in Pakistan since the Afghan Talibanreturnedto power in Kabul in 2021.
For its part. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned TTP. But, officials say those appeals have gone unheeded, while the Afghan Taliban reject these allegations.
During the UNSC meeting. Ambassador Ahmad noted that it had been nearly half a decade since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.
“It was hoped that this would end the bloodshed. Afghanistan would be at peace with itself and its neighbours,” he said.
The envoy added that with the end of the civil war, it was “anticipated that the Taliban would take positive steps to transform into a responsible governing authority by adhering to their international obligations. commitments, and that they would lead Afghanistan into an era of stability and progress, provide the long-awaited relief to all Afghans and live in harmony with immediate neighbours”.
“For decades, terrorism has been a major problem in Afghanistan, with implications not just for Afghanistan, but the immediate neighbourhood. beyond. Afghanistan has a history of being a safe haven for terrorist groups, including those used as proxies by our adversaries to target Pakistan. other countries,” he highlighted.
It was “our expectation that the Taliban would take concrete. verifiable actions against terrorist groups such as the TTP, BLA and its Majeed Brigade, Islamic State-Khorasan, East Turkestan Islamic Movement and their affiliates that are operating with impunity on Afghan soil”.
“Regrettably, they have failed to undertake action, showing complete disregard for the legitimate security concerns of Pakistan. other countries,” the ambassador said.
He added that, besides “independent analysis. reports of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which clearly outline the terrorism situation in Afghanistan and the ground realities, along with the recent exponential rise in terrorist attacks in Pakistan, these developments serve as glaring reminders of the precarious situation and the continuing threats posed to international peace and security”.
“As a direct result of the freedom with which these terrorist groups operate in Afghanistan. Pakistan has borne the brunt of their attacks, as well as the Taliban’s growing nexus with these terrorist groups.
“And once again, a significant number of Afghans are found to be involved in terrorism inside Pakistan,” he added.
Ambassador Ahmad said these terrorist groups had access to advanced weapons and sophisticated equipment, including drones.
“Much of this can be traced back to the multi-billion dollar worth of arms. ammunition left behind by foreign forces — which was meant for use by the previous Afghan national government,” he said.
Moreover, during counter-terrorism operations by Pakistan, there have been more than 290 cases of seizures of such weapons, which are used for terrorism. suicide bombings in the western parts of Pakistan, and which have exacted a heavy toll of human life and material losses, he told the UNSC.
In 2025 alone, Pakistan reported more than 5,300 terrorist incidents. lost more than 1,200 lives to terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, he said.
In this connection. he recalled that a vehicle-borneIED attackby the TTP on a police post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on May 9 resulted in the martyrdom of 15 police officers.
“Our investigations revealed that the attack was planned by terrorists in Afghanistan.”
Ambassador Ahmad said: “It is deplorable that the Taliban have reverted back to their old tactics of providing safe havens to terrorist groups. chosen the perilous path of complicity, backed by an outside actor, the historic spoiler and instigator of chaos — that has moved fast as an opportunist to wage a proxy war against Pakistan.
“Let me make it clear: Pakistan will defend itself against whosoever attempts to harm our sovereignty, territorial integrity. national security.”
Ambassador Ahmad recalled that numerous diplomatic efforts were made to counsel the Taliban.
He said: “We thank friendly countries for their genuine mediation efforts, particularly Qatar, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia. most recently, China, to find amicable solutions.
Yet the Taliban’s continued intransigence. even refusal to publicly denounce and condemn terrorist groups such as the TTP and BLA is deeply disturbing — it is evidence enough of their complicity and active support for these groups. Pakistan will not sit idle while suffering from terrorist acts. We will respond in self-defence, as. when needed and always in conformity with international law and International Humanitarian Law,” he said.
Referring to a recent report by the UN secretary general. he said it “seems to largely externalise the responsibility for Afghanistan’s multifaceted challenges”.
“The fatalities of terrorists. their supporters as a result of counter-terrorism operations are mentioned within the ambit of ‘civilian casualties’, posing serious questions on the credibility of UNAMA’s reporting from Afghanistan and the nature of their engagement with the Taliban,” Ambassador Ahmad said.
He remarked that the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) was “swift in reporting incidents of cross-border actions. casualties but fails to provide the overall context — which is the grave terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan and its cross-border impact directed at Pakistan that is harming Pakistan and killing innocent Pakistanis”.
Ahmad further said that the report also did not provide information on the destabilising accumulation of small arms. light weapons inside Afghanistan.
“Nor does it adequately shed light on Afghanistan’s illicit economy, with its complex web of money laundering. terror financing networks, including hundi and hawala networks. Instead. the report resorts to shifting the blame on external dynamics, with little regard for the Taliban’s own policies that have brought Afghanistan to the brink of disaster,” he said.
The envoy stressed that “we must not lose sight of the fact that it is the Taliban’s reckless style of governance. flawed ideologies of extremism, suppression and radicalisation that have brought upon Afghanistan the calamities it faces today”.
“The Humanitarian Needs. Response Plan for 2026, we are told, is underfunded at 14 per cent — again a direct result of Taliban’s unwillingness to prioritise the welfare of Afghans over their own interest and authoritarian control,” he pointed out.
Noting that several references had been made to the Pak-Aghan border closure in the report, he said: “Let me clarify that the closure of border between Pakistan. Afghanistan does not, from Pakistan’s perspective, affect the movement of humanitarian supplies.
“Pakistan has been processing and facilitating the passage of humanitarian goods and material. However, the Afghan Taliban regime refuses to let them pass. keeps the border closed on its side, even to receive such life-saving cargoes, which obviously is to the detriment of the Afghan people.”
He went on to say that the worsening human rights situation in Afghanistan “aligned with Taliban’s failings. deceitful narrative to meet the demands of the international community”.
“Women. girls are denied their fundamental human rights and dignity, with discriminatory and abusive practices — a clear violation of their international obligations as well as of Islamic laws, traditions and tenets of the Muslim faith. The Afghan people are being held hostage to these inhumane restrictions, oppression and selfish behaviour,” he said.
He said that Pakistan took numerous steps to support Afghanistan, including humanitarian relief efforts, political engagement, providing incentives to boost bilateral trade, offering transit concessions, issuing student. medical visas, conducting high-level visits to Kabul and participating in various regional cooperation initiatives to help Afghanistan succeed in its quest to find its rightful place in the international community.
For over four decades, he continued, Pakistan welcomed millions of Afghan refugees “despite limitations. insufficient international support, dealing with huge caseloads of illegal Afghans, including those without documentation, posing a serious threat to our security”.
But these were never meant to stay indefinitely, he added.
The ambassador called on the UN secretary general to “clearly outline the status of third country resettlement cases of Afghans in a transparent manner — cases that are pending for years. despite being a tiny fraction of what Pakistan had to deal with, in the face of national security threats that no country would tolerate”.
“While we provide all possible facilitation, the international community must step up and shoulder its responsibility. Shifting the blame of Afghanistan’s woes to the inflow of Afghan returnees will not solve the problem,” he said.
Ambassador Ahmad further said, “We look forward to the next steps of the UN-led Doha Process. action plan for its Mosaic approach, to address Afghanistan’s multifaceted challenges comprehensively, with well-defined objectives and a realistic roadmap as the only viable pathway for normalisation”.
Pakistan. Afghanistan, he said, were bound by geography, deep-rooted ties, civilisational links dating back centuries, and fraternal bonds of faith, culture and ethnicity.
“No country has suffered more from the consequences of conflict and instability in Afghanistan than Pakistan. So we understand,. we also know, that no country stands to benefit more from peace, prosperity and stability in Afghanistan than Pakistan.
“Pakistan’s demand from the Taliban is simple and clear: verifiable and non-reversible action against terrorists. Regrettably, this demand remains unmet. The window for course correction is narrowing but is still open. We hope the Taliban realise this in earnest. cooperate with the international community for the long-term peace and development of Afghanistan and, above all, in the best interest of all Afghans,” he said, concluding his address.
Discussion
Sign in to join the thread, react, and share images.