Pakistan Faces Sharp Rise in Terror Attacks from Afghanistan: Envoy

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has said terrorist attacks originating from militant groups based in Afghanistan have increased significantly, posing a growing security challenge for Pakistan.

In an interview with Arab News, the Pakistani envoy alleged that the Taliban government was allowing militant groups, particularly the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to operate from Afghan soil.

He said UN monitoring teams and reports by the UN secretary-general had also raised concerns over Afghanistan being used as a safe haven by several terrorist organisations.

According to Asim Iftikhar, more than 5,200 terrorism-related incidents were recorded in Pakistan in 2025, resulting in over 1,300 deaths. During the first six months of 2026, he said, more than 3,000 such attacks had been reported, in which over 830 Pakistanis lost their lives.

He clarified that these figures cover a broader range of terrorism-related incidents, while the Global Terrorism Index recorded 1,045 terrorist incidents and 1,139 terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan during 2025.

The Pakistani envoy identified the TTP, Balochistan Liberation Army, Majeed Brigade and a regional Islamic State affiliate among the major security threats facing Pakistan. He alleged that some of these groups were also being used as proxies by elements opposed to Pakistan.

Asim Iftikhar further claimed that the Taliban authorities were providing the TTP with safe havens, weapons, financial support and logistical assistance, including facilitating cross-border infiltration. He also said weapons left behind after the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan were being used by militant groups.

He urged the Taliban leadership to take clear and verifiable action against militant organisations operating from Afghan territory and stressed that Pakistan’s differences were not with the Afghan people but with policies that, he said, had directly affected Pakistan’s security.

The envoy also noted that Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, China and Qatar had previously played roles in efforts to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, he said the Taliban leadership had yet to provide the assurances sought by Pakistan.

Asim Iftikhar said the Taliban could help end Afghanistan’s diplomatic isolation, frozen assets and lack of formal international recognition by changing its policies, particularly on counterterrorism, governance and human rights.