United Nations (TDI): Pakistan has warned the international community that the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating in Afghanistan, could emerge as al-Qaeda’s arm with a regional and global terrorist agenda.
Ambassador Usman Jadoon, acting permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council on Thursday that terrorism within and from Afghanistan poses very serious threat to the country, to the region, and to the entire world.
“While the interim government in Afghanistan is fighting ISIL-K, the threat from different other terrorist groups such as the TTP, al-Qaeda and others has yet to be addressed,” he said while speaking in a debate on Afghanistan situation.
Highlighting the ranking of 6,000-fighters strong TTP as the largest, listed terrorist outfit, Jadoon said that with safe havens close to Pakistan’s border, it poses a direct and daily threat to its security.
He said that TTP receives external support and financing “from our adversary” — an obvious reference to India.
The TTP, he said, was fast emerging as an umbrella organization for other terrorist outfits, aimed at destabilizing Afghanistan’s neighbours.
“We have evidence of its collaboration with other terrorist organizations like the Majeed Brigade that is utilizing terrorism to disrupt Pakistan’s economic cooperation with China, particularly CPEC,” Ambassador Jadoon said.
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“Given its old ties with al-Qaeda, the TTP could emerge its arm with a regional and international terrorist agenda.”
Pakistan, he declared would take all required steps to eliminate these threats, cooperating with regional and global efforts to root out the menace of terrorism.
About Taliban’s new directive prohibiting girls from attending public and private medical institutes in Afghanistan, Ambassador Jadoon said the global community expects the AIG to fulfill its declared commitments on human rights and political inclusion.
“Instead of easing earlier restrictions, the Afghan interim government intensified the restrictions on women. These restrictions are contrary to Islamic precepts and Sahria.”
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Jadoon said the global community is obliged to help the 23.7 million Afghans who need urgent assistance and to take adequate steps to bolster Afghanistan’s economy — including reviving the national banking system and restoring commercial activity.
He said that Pakistan enjoys close bonds of ethnicity, faith, history, language and culture with Afghanistan.
