Banned TTP poses serious threat to Pakistan security: UNSC panel

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The chair of the UN Security Council’s Daesh and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee has warned that the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) poses a serious and growing threat to the region, saying the group has carried out a number of high-profile attacks in Pakistan, causing widespread concern.

Presenting a report to the Security Council, Denmark’s deputy permanent representative Sandra Jensen Landi said the TTP – made up of around 6,000 fighters – was a major regional threat, benefiting from both logistical support and significant support from the “de facto” Afghan authorities.

He said the TTP, with its nearly 6,000 fighters, is a serious threat emanating from the region, which receives logistical and substantial support from “de facto” authorities.

Lundy made the statement as the 15-member council was briefed by the heads of its three subsidiary bodies–the one dealing with Daesh/al-Qaeda, the United Nations counter-terrorism efforts and measures for non-state actors to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction–hearing that the threat posed by terrorism continues to evolve, particularly in Africa, as it faces new offensive actors. is

In the backdrop of increasing terrorist attacks in Pakistan, tensions are being witnessed in Islamabad and Kabul amid the reluctance of the Afghan Taliban government to act against terrorist groups operating from that territory.

Commenting on the report, Usman Jadoon, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said the country had made priceless sacrifices in efforts to end the menace, with over 80,000 deaths and billions of dollars in economic losses.

He added that Al-Qaeda was eliminated largely due to Pakistan’s efforts.

“Our valiant security forces and law enforcement agencies continue to counter the threat of terrorism from Afghanistan where entities like ISIS, TTP and its affiliates, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its authorized brigades are thriving under the auspices of their hosts and supporting our principled adversaries and pure destabilizers.”

Ambassador Jadoun said the 1267 Committee’s sanctions regime must “reflect the realities on the ground”, and its listing and delisting issues must be dealt with “in a fair, transparent and just manner and without political considerations”.

The Pakistani envoy also stressed that, in order to adopt a zero-tolerance approach, the UN counter-terrorism architecture should “also have the necessary tools to designate violent, right-wing, far-right, ultra-nationalist, xenophobic and Islamophobic groups”.

Also, China’s representative urged committee members to support the listing of the Balochistan Liberation Army and its Majeed Brigade, “sending a strong signal of zero tolerance for terrorism.”

Islamabad-Kabul tension

Tensions between the two neighbors escalated when Taliban forces and the India-backed TTP, also known as Fitna al-Kharj, resorted to an unprovoked attack on Pakistan on October 12.

Pakistan’s armed forces gave a befitting response to the aggression, killing more than 200 Afghan Taliban and allied militants in self-defense.

The army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said 23 soldiers accepted martyrdom in clashes with Taliban forces and terrorists.

Additionally, security forces also carried out “security strikes” in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and the capital Kabul, as well as in the border areas of North and South Waziristan districts, successfully destroying several strongholds in response to the offensive.

The two sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire during Doha talks on October 19 and later held several meetings in Istanbul, with Pakistan aiming to devise a mechanism to prevent cross-border terrorism originating from Afghan soil.

The Istanbul talks did not yield the desired results due to reluctance on the Afghan side, as Kabul used the Istanbul talks instead of addressing Islamabad’s primary concern of terrorism originating from Afghan soil.