RASC News Agency: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Muhammad Ishaq Dar, has described Afghanistan as a growing epicenter of insecurity and terrorism, warning that the escalating threats from Afghanistan soil pose a serious challenge to regional stability. During a high-level meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on Wednesday, February 19, Dar underscored Pakistan’s deep concerns over the presence of terrorist networks in Afghanistan and called for greater international support to combat the rising threats.
He asserted that terrorist groups, particularly Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), are actively operating from Afghanistan territory, using it as a launchpad for attacks on Pakistan. He also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to providing humanitarian aid to millions of impoverished Afghanistanis, while advocating for regional connectivity projects to boost economic cooperation between Pakistan and Central Asia. Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast dedication to global peace and security, emphasizing its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and its active contributions to international peacekeeping efforts.
Guterres acknowledged Pakistan’s engagement with the UN and commended its role in maintaining international peace and stability through its peacekeeping missions. Dar’s remarks come at a time when Pakistan has faced an upsurge in militant attacks, particularly from TTP, which has grown increasingly emboldened since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan. Pakistani officials have repeatedly claimed that terrorist groups have acquired advanced weaponry left behind by NATO forces and are now using Afghanistan as a strategic base.
The Taliban, however, have categorically rejected these accusations, insisting that Pakistan’s internal security challenges are of its own making. Earlier, Pakistan’s army chief also voiced concerns, stating that Afghanistan poses a significant security threat not just to Pakistan but to the broader region as well.
