Pakistan urges UNSC to ask Taliban to cut ties with TTP

A top Pakistani diplomat has called on the UN Security Coun­cil to join Pakistan in demand­ing that the Taliban authorities terminate their relationship with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pa­kistan (TTP), which is respon­sible for persistent attacks against Pakistan’s military and civilian targets. 

“Left unchecked, the TTP, supported by Al-Qaeda and some State sponsors, could soon pose a global terrorist threat,” Ambassador Munir Akram warned the 15-mem­ber Council on Wednesday. 

Speaking in a debate on the situation in Afghanistan, the Pa­kistani envoy said, “The Afghan Interim Government’s failure to control the TTP and other ter­rorist groups erodes its claim of full control of its territory that it asserts in order to secure inter­national recognition.”

He also urged the United Na­tions to undertake an investi­gation to find out how the TTP has acquired advanced military equipment and weaponry and to identify the sources of the TTP’s financing, which is help­ing sustain its 50,000 fighters and their dependents and its terrorist operations. 

Regarding the reported bor­der incidents, the exchange of fire by Pakistani security forc­es was always in response to cross-border attacks by the TTP and its affiliates against Pakistan’s border posts and installations. 

“We would expect the UN to call on the Afghan Interim Government to prevent such cross-border attacks and infil­tration by the TTP and other ter­rorists into Pakistani territory.”

Highlighting that terrorist organizations in Afghanistan pose a security threat to each one of the country’s immedi­ate neighbours, Ambassador Akram said, “Counter terror­ism must be the highest prior­ity in any future Roadmap for engagement with the Afghan Interim Government.”

Read more: https://www.nation.com.pk/08-Mar-2024/pakistan-urges-unsc-to-ask-taliban-to-cut-ties-with-ttp