Have Evidence of Taliban’s Hand in Attacks in Pakistan, Says Pak Envoy
Terrorism in Afghanistan is the most serious threat to Pakistan, the region and the world, as per Pakistan's ambassador.
Terrorism in Afghanistan is the most serious threat to Pakistan, the region and the world, as per Pakistan's ambassador.
Munir Akram, at the United Nations Security Council meeting, said that Pakistan has evidence that some of the attacks inside Pakistan have been facilitated by elements in the Taliban government.
Pakistan's representative to the United Nations said at the meeting that the Taliban has not been successful in fighting ISIS-K and at the same time, it has given sanctuary and protection to al-Qaeda and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
"The TTP is a group of concern for Pakistan and should be of concern to the entire region and the world," he said. "With about 6,000 fighters, it is the largest terrorist group in Afghanistan."
Munir Akram also said that the Taliban has given shelter to TTP members near Pakistan's borders, and that the group attacks targets in Pakistan almost every day from these areas.
According to Pakistan's representative to the UN, hundreds of Pakistani soldiers and civilians have been killed in TTP attacks.
Munir Akram added that the Pakistani Taliban have been equipped with modern weapons left behind by foreign forces in Afghanistan, the warehouses of which have been provided to the Afghan Taliban.
He accused some Afghan Taliban commanders of being involved in some of the border clashes that led to casualties on both sides of the border.
The Pakistani diplomat warned at the Security Council meeting that given the Taliban's long relationship with al-Qaeda, it will not take long for the TTP to act as an agent of al-Qaeda in the region and the world.
"Although some friends are concerned about the threat posed by ISIS-K, they should also be concerned about the threat posed by the powerful TTP in the not-too-distant future," the Pakistani representative said.
“Widespread human rights violations by Taliban”
Pakistan's representative to the United Nations also expressed concern about the human rights situation in Afghanistan. Like other countries, Pakistan is concerned about human rights violations, especially for women and girls in Afghanistan, he said.
The Taliban have abandoned their initial commitment to women and girls, as well as the fight against terrorism, Munir Akram said.
Instead of easing restrictions, the Taliban have doubled the restrictions by passing a new law.
The representative of Pakistan said that the normalisation of relations with the Taliban is contingent on the formation of an inclusive government, the observance of human rights, especially the rights of women and girls, and the serious fight of this group against terrorist groups.
