Pakistan urges Afghan Taliban to act against terrorist groups, warns of self-defence

Pakistan has urged Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to take decisive action against terrorist organisations operating from Afghan territory, warning that it would exercise its right to self-defence against threats to its citizens and national security.

The warning was delivered by Counsellor Muhammad Jawad Ajmal during an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan’s human rights situation at the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee.

According to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Ajmal expressed serious concern over the presence of groups including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Majeed Brigade, ISIL-K and East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) in Afghanistan.

Ajmal said the Taliban’s failure to publicly condemn these organizations raised serious questions about their alleged complicity and support.

He claimed that more than 4,700 Pakistanis had been killed in terrorist attacks originating from Afghan territory over the past three years.