Editorial
The latest UN Security Council report validates what Pakistan has been warning about for years—Afghanistan has become a dangerous sanctuary for terrorist groups threatening regional stability. The findings are damning and demand immediate international attention.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan now operates as one of Afghanistan’s largest terrorist organizations, enjoying not just freedom of movement but active support from Kabul’s de facto authorities. This isn’t speculation anymore. The UN confirms that TTP receives substantial logistical backing, weapons permits, and travel documents from the Taliban regime. Recent attacks demonstrate their growing sophistication—from the November courthouse assault in Islamabad to the devastating imambargah bombing that killed 33 people.
What makes this situation particularly alarming is the convergence of multiple threats. Al-Qaeda continues providing training and operational guidance to TTP under Taliban patronage. The Baloch Liberation Army has escalated attacks on security forces and CPEC infrastructure, with UN reports suggesting coordination with TTP and ISIL-K. Meanwhile, foreign fighters from groups like ETIM move freely across Afghanistan, even joining Taliban police forces while preparing for operations elsewhere.
Pakistan’s security forces have paid a heavy price combating these threats. Operation Radd-ul-Fitna alone saw 22 personnel sacrificing their lives defending the nation. Yet the challenge persists because terrorists enjoy safe havens across the border, equipped with advanced weaponry—including American military equipment abandoned during the hasty withdrawal.
The Taliban’s hollow denials fool no one. Not a single UN member state accepts their claim that Afghanistan harbors no terrorist groups. The evidence is overwhelming and the consequences deadly.
This crisis extends beyond Pakistan’s borders. Central Asian states worry about fighters planning attacks from Afghan territory. The potential for extra-regional terrorism grows as these groups deepen their cooperation.
The international community cannot afford indifference. Afghanistan’s transformation into a terrorist haven threatens global security. Empty condemnations won’t suffice—concrete action against this dangerous nexus is imperative before the situation spirals further out of control.
