RASC News Agency: Daniel Hassanein, Second Secretary of Pakistan’s Permanent Mission in Geneva, issued a stark warning at the United Nations Human Rights Council, highlighting Afghanistan’s increasing role as a safe haven for terrorist operations and the widespread, systematic violations of human rights under Taliban rule. Speaking on Monday, September 8, Hassanein described Afghanistan’s current situation as “a grave and escalating threat” not only to Pakistan’s national security but to the stability of the entire region.
Hassanein emphasized the operations of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other extremist groups, noting that these factions continue to plan and execute attacks from Afghan territory with logistical, financial, and operational support, largely facilitated by the Taliban’s deliberate inaction. “The TTP exploits Afghanistan as a sanctuary to organize attacks against Pakistani civilians, operating with impunity due to the Taliban’s inability or unwillingness to enforce security,” Hassanein said. He noted that repeated reports from the United Nations Security Council have confirmed the use of Afghan territory as a base for cross-border terrorism, even as Taliban authorities continue to deny these allegations and portray themselves as responsible rulers.
The Pakistani diplomat also highlighted Afghanistan’s deteriorating human rights situation, particularly the systemic suppression of women and girls. He said, “Pakistan is deeply concerned by the Taliban’s discriminatory policies, which deny Afghanistani women access to education and employment. These measures flagrantly violate international human rights norms and contradict fundamental principles of Islam.” Hassanein called on the Taliban to honor their international commitments, including the Doha Agreement, and take immediate steps to prevent Afghanistan from being exploited as a platform for extremist operations.
The presence of Pakistani Taliban and affiliated extremist groups in Afghanistan has grown markedly over recent years, turning the country into a de facto base for attacks against Pakistan. The recent suicide assault in Bannu, Pakistan, near the Afghan border, where three attackers identified as Afghanistani nationals and Taliban affiliates struck a civilian target, underscores the deadly consequences of the Taliban’s tolerance toward militant safe havens. Such incidents have exacerbated regional insecurity and underscored the Taliban’s complicity, whether by design or neglect, in fostering cross-border terrorism.
Security experts warn that without genuine enforcement and accountability from the Taliban, cross-border threats will persist, destabilizing not only Pakistan but neighboring states and the wider South-Central Asian region. Afghanistan under Taliban control has become a breeding ground for transnational terrorism, where extremist groups operate freely while ordinary citizens face severe repression, poverty, and insecurity.
Hassanein concluded by urging the international community to maintain pressure on the Taliban, emphasizing that continued impunity for militant networks and systemic rights violations could have catastrophic consequences for regional stability. He stressed that Afghanistan cannot serve as a safe harbor for terrorists without accountability, and that the Taliban’s failure to govern responsibly directly endangers millions of lives both within and beyond Afghanistan’s borders.
