TTP could become al-Qaeda’s arm to destabilize Afghanistan’s neighbours: Pakistan warns

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has warned the international community that the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), “the largest terrorist group” operating in Afghanistan, could emerge as al-Qaeda’s arm with a regional and global terrorist agenda.

“Terrorism within and from Afghanistan poses the single most serious threat to the country, to the region, and to the world,” Ambassador Usman Jadoon, acting permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council.

“While the AIG (Afghan Interim Government) is fighting ISIL-K (Daesh), the threat from various other terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda, the TTP and others has yet to be addressed,” he said while speaking in a debate on the situation in Afghanistan.

Highlighting the ranking of 6,000-fighters strong TTP as the largest, listed terrorist organization, Ambassador Jadoon said, “With safe havens close to our border, it poses a direct and daily threat to Pakistan’s security.”

“In countering the TTP’s cross border operations, our security and border officials have confiscated some of the modern weapons acquired by the AIG from stocks left behind by foreign forces,” the Pakistani envoy said, adding that the terrorist group also receives external support and financing “from our adversary” — an obvious reference to India.

The TTP, he said, was fast emerging as an umbrella organization for other terrorist groups, aimed at destabilizing Afghanistan’s neighbours.

“We have evidence of its collaboration with other terrorist groups like the Majeed Brigade that is utilizing terrorism to disrupt Pakistan’s economic cooperation with China, especially CPEC,” Ambassador Jadoon said.

“Given its long association with al-Qaeda, the TTP could emerge as Al-Qaeda’s arm with a regional and global terrorist agenda.”

Pakistan, he declared would take all necessary national measures to eliminate these threats, cooperating with regional and international efforts to root out the menace of terrorism.

About Taliban’s new directive prohibiting women and girls from attending public and private medical institutes in Afghanistan, Ambassador Jadoon said the international community expects the AIG to fulfill its declared commitments on human rights and political inclusion.

The Pakistani envoy also called for the Doha Process framework to go beyond counter-narcotics and the private sector; Afghanistan’s challenges, including terrorism, human rights and widespread poverty, are also affecting the region.

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He said the international community is obliged to help the 23.7 million Afghans who need urgent aid and to take adequate measures to bolster Afghanistan’s economy — including reviving the national banking system and restoring commercial activity.