NEW YORK, 17 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja) – Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has alleged that the Afghan Taliban government is providing safe havens and support to militant groups, contributing to increased terrorist attacks in Pakistan. In an interview with Arab News, he said UN monitoring reports had also expressed concern over Afghanistan being used as a safe haven by terrorist organizations.
Asim Iftikhar identified the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Majeed Brigade and a regional group affiliated with Islamic State as major threats. He alleged that the TTP was receiving safe havens, weapons, financial support and facilitation for cross-border infiltration from Afghan territory. He said Pakistan had repeatedly urged the Taliban leadership to take clear and verifiable action against militant groups operating from Afghanistan.
The Pakistani envoy said the international community expected Afghanistan to establish an inclusive government, respect human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls, and prevent its territory from being used for terrorism against other countries. He said Pakistan’s differences were with Taliban policies rather than the Afghan people, and urged the Taliban leadership to change its policies to help end Afghanistan’s international isolation and improve regional peace and stability.