Pakistan, China, Iran, and Russia concerned over terror activities from Afghanistan

NEW YORK: A ministerial meeting of the Quadrilateral Group—comprising Pakistan, China, Iran, and Russia—voiced serious concerns about security challenges emerging from Afghanistan, highlighting that terrorist groups operating there pose a significant threat to both regional and global stability.

Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has seen a rise in militant attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, provinces bordering Afghanistan and Iran.

Data from the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) showed a worrying increase in such attacks, with the number of incidents climbing from 38 in July to 59 in August. KP witnessed 29 attacks, Balochistan 28, and two occurred in Punjab.

The Pakistan government has repeatedly urged Afghanistan’s interim rulers to prevent banned groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militants from using Afghan soil to launch attacks against Pakistan.

The quadrilateral meeting took place on September 27, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, as per a joint statement released on Sunday.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif represented Pakistan, while China, Russia, and Iran were represented by their respective foreign ministers.

During the session, the ministers warned that terrorist organizations such as Daesh, Al-Qaida, the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Jaish ul-Adl, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), TTP, and others based in Afghanistan pose ongoing threats to regional and global security.

They also condemned recent terrorist attacks, including those by Daesh on Karbala pilgrims in Afghanistan on September 13, 2024, and the TTP’s assaults in Bannu and Besham in Pakistan earlier in the year.

The ministers expressed deep concerns over the security situation in Afghanistan, advocating for a more comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable approach to addressing regional security issues.

They emphasized the importance of strengthening counter-terrorism efforts on both bilateral and multilateral levels, calling for support for Afghanistan in combating terrorism and eliminating its root causes.

They also urged the Afghan Taliban to take concrete actions in fulfilling their international commitments, dismantle terrorist groups without discrimination, and prevent Afghan territory from being used to threaten its neighbors and the wider region.

Additionally, the ministers reaffirmed their support for Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, political independence, unity, and territorial integrity, advocating for non-interference in the country’s internal affairs.

They stressed that Afghanistan should serve as a platform for international cooperation rather than geopolitical competition.

The ministers further called on Afghan authorities to create conditions conducive to the safe return of Afghan refugees, take measures to ensure their reintegration, and prevent further migration.

They also urged the international community to provide sustainable financial and logistical support to facilitate the repatriation of refugees, especially to countries like Iran and Pakistan that host large numbers of Afghan refugees.

In conclusion, the meeting emphasized that strengthening peace and stability in Afghanistan, while combating terrorism and drug-related crimes, is crucial to the common interests of the region.