KARACHI: Pakistan has warned the UN Security Council of a “serious threat of terrorism within and from Afghan­istan”, emphasising that the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pak­istan (TTP) is fast emerging as an “umbrella organisation” with potential of causing regional destabilisation, Dawn.com reported.

The banned TTP, a separate group but aligned with the Afghan Taliban, had escalated attacks on Pakistani security forces after breaking a fragile ceasefire agreement with the government in November 2022.

According to a statement posted on the X account of the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN, Munir Akram, while addressing a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan on Wednesday, pointed out the threat posed by the TTP globally.

“The ambassador ... termed the TTP, known as Fitna al Khawarij in Pakistan, as the largest terrorist organisation in Afghanistan that is conducting almost daily terrorist attacks against Pakistan with full support and protection of the Afghan interim government and sponsorship of Pakistan’s major adversary,” the statement quoted Mr Akram as saying.

Islamabad has repeatedly conveyed its concerns to the Afghan government over the presence of terror outfits, including the TTP, inside Afghanistan, saying that the militants have consistently used Afghan soil to launch terror attacks inside Pakistani territory. Kabul denies the allegations.

Indicating the TTP’s potential to cause regional destabilisation, Ambassador Akram said the terrorist group was “fast emerging as an umbrella organisation that is now coordinating with secessionist groups such as Majeed Brigade”.

“And, given its long association with Al Qaeda, it will not be long before the TTP becomes the spearhead for Al Qaeda’s planned regional and global terrorist goals,” he warned, calling upon the world to be concerned about the threat a strengthened TTP poses in the not-too-distant future.

Mr Akram said Pakistan was ready to cooperate with regional and international organisations to eliminate the TTP threat and will continue to take national action against the terrorist organisation.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2024