Pakistan’s envoy to the United Nations has issued stark Pakistan UN terror warnings about cross-border threats, spotlighting the urgent need for international intervention to safeguard regional stability.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, delivered Pakistan UN terror warnings to the Security Council on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, at UN Headquarters in New York, highlighting terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil as the gravest threat to national security and calling for decisive global action to dismantle their networks.
In South Asia, where porous borders and shared histories amplify risks, these Pakistan UN terror warnings underscore the precarious balance of security and humanitarian needs, potentially destabilising economies and displacing populations across Pakistan, Afghanistan, and beyond if unaddressed.
Escalating Pakistan UN Terror Warnings Amid Regional Tensions
Ambassador Ahmed’s address came during the Security Council’s 9998th meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, convened to assess ongoing challenges four years after the Taliban’s assumption of power. He emphasised that while the end of civil war marked progress, persistent issues including sanctions, poverty, narcotics trafficking, and terrorism continue to plague the region.
The envoy detailed how entities such as the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIL-K), Al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and Majeed Brigade exploit sanctuaries on Afghan soil. According to the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations, more than 60 terrorist camps serve as hubs for infiltration, targeting civilians, security forces, and infrastructure projects in Pakistan.
“We have credible evidence of collaboration among these groups through joint training, illicit weapons trade, refuge to terrorists and coordinated attacks,” Ambassador Ahmed stated, as per the official transcript. These terror threats from Afghan soil, he argued, extend beyond physical borders into the digital realm, with nearly 70 propaganda accounts traced to Afghan IP addresses disseminating extremist messaging.
Terror Threats from Afghan Soil: A Detailed UN Pakistan Perspective
The ambassador spotlighted the TTP as the largest UN-designated terrorist organisation operating from Afghan soil, boasting nearly 6,000 fighters. Pakistan, he noted, has repeatedly thwarted infiltration attempts by TTP and BLA militants, seizing caches of sophisticated military equipment abandoned by international forces during their 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
These counter-terrorism efforts exact a heavy toll. “These efforts come at a heavy price … just this month, 12 Pakistani soldiers were martyred in a single incident,” Ahmed remarked, underscoring the human cost of defending against terror threats Afghan soil UN Pakistan dynamics perpetuate.
In response, Pakistan and China have jointly submitted a request to the Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee to designate the BLA and Majeed Brigade as terrorist organisations. Ambassador Ahmed urged swift action on this proposal to curtail their operations, framing it as essential to mitigating broader terror threats from Afghan soil.
The address also touched on cyber dimensions of these threats. “Curbing these networks requires full cooperation from social media platforms with governments,” he asserted, calling for enhanced international collaboration to neutralise online propaganda linked to Afghan-based extremists.
Humanitarian Dimensions Intertwined with Security Concerns
Beyond security, Ambassador Ahmed addressed Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, which exacerbates vulnerabilities exploited by terrorist groups. The UN’s 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan has secured only 27 per cent of its required $2.42 billion (£1.87 billion), leaving millions in dire straits.
Pakistan, which has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for over four decades amid limited global support, recently extended 105 tons of aid following a devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan last month that claimed over 1,400 lives. Yet, the envoy stressed that repatriations proceed in a dignified manner, with a liberal visa regime allowing Afghans to visit for education, medical care, and business.
He advocated for equitable burden-sharing by the international community, including fulfilling long-delayed commitments for third-country resettlements. Stabilising Afghanistan’s economy, reviving its banking system, and unfreezing assets were flagged as critical steps to prevent further radicalisation.
Regional diplomacy features prominently in Pakistan’s approach. High-level engagements, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar’s visit to Kabul and trilateral talks with Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and China, alongside quadrilateral discussions with China, Iran, and Russia in Dushanbe, aim to foster cooperation on security, trade, and counter-narcotics.
Background
The resurgence of terror threats from Afghan soil has intensified since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, with UN reports documenting increased activities by groups like TTP and ISIL-K. Pakistan’s repeated Pakistan UN terror warnings reflect a pattern of appeals for enforcement of UN resolutions, including those mandating the Taliban to prevent Afghan territory from being used for terrorism. Previous Security Council briefings, such as those in July and August 2025, echoed similar concerns over attacks on Pakistani infrastructure.
What’s Next for UN Pakistan Counter-Terrorism Efforts
As the Security Council deliberates the joint designation request, expectations mount for concrete measures against terror threats Afghan soil UN Pakistan relations strain. Ambassador Ahmed reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to a UN-led Doha process and mosaic approach for balanced engagement, warning that isolation hinders progress.
In conclusion, these Pakistan UN terror warnings serve as a clarion call for unified action, lest unchecked terror threats from Afghan soil undermine South Asian peace for years to come.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, September 18th, 2025
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