TTP Emerging As Global Threat: Munir Akram

Web Desk: Pakistan has urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take serious note of the Afghan Taliban’s support for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which continues to launch attacks from Afghan soil.

Addressing the UNSC, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Munir Akram, stated that Islamabad has “clear evidence” proving the Taliban regime’s backing of TTP militants. He emphasized that the weapons used in terrorist attacks inside Pakistan originate from Afghanistan, yet repeated concerns raised with Kabul have yielded no meaningful response.

TTP’s Expanding Influence

Ambassador Akram warned that the TTP, with an estimated 6,000 fighters, has evolved into an umbrella organization for multiple militant groups operating in Afghanistan. He highlighted that extremist organizations such as Al-Qaeda, the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and the Majeed Brigade continue to operate under the TTP’s protection, posing a grave threat to Pakistan and the wider region.

Failure to Curb Terrorism

Criticizing the Taliban administration’s inaction, Akram underscored that Pakistan has suffered significant human and economic losses due to cross-border terrorist activities. He noted that hundreds of Pakistanis have lost their lives in TTP-led attacks, while groups like the BLA and Majeed Brigade continue to target Pakistan’s security and economic interests, including Chinese investments in the country.

Expressing disappointment over the UN Secretary-General’s latest report on Afghanistan, which overlooked key terrorism-related concerns, Akram urged the UN to take immediate action. He warned that if left unchecked, the TTP could emerge as a global jihadist threat similar to Al-Qaeda.

Regional Counterterrorism Efforts

To counter the growing terrorist threat, Pakistan plans to initiate consultations within the UN to develop a comprehensive strategy. As part of the Doha Process, Akram announced the formation of a counterterrorism working group aimed at strengthening measures against militant elements in the region.

Pakistan’s latest warning to the UNSC follows repeated calls for decisive action against the TTP. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also urged the Afghan government to abandon its dual approach and take firm action against the banned group, warning that “a two-pronged strategy will not work.”