Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Munir Akram, addressed the UN Security Council (UNSC) on March 11, 2025, highlighting the significant threat posed by over 20 terrorist organizations operating within Afghanistan. He emphasized that these groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), endanger regional security and stability.

TTP’s Expanding Influence

Ambassador Akram noted that the TTP, comprising approximately 6,000 fighters, has evolved into an umbrella organization for various regional terror groups. Operating from safe havens near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the TTP has orchestrated numerous attacks against Pakistani military personnel, civilians, and institutions, resulting in hundreds of casualties. The group’s collaboration with entities like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Majeed Brigade aims to destabilize Pakistan and disrupt its economic initiatives with China.

Concerns Over Kabul’s Complicity

The ambassador expressed concerns regarding the Afghan authorities’ tolerance and alleged complicity in the TTP’s cross-border terrorist activities. He highlighted that modern weapons, left behind by foreign forces and acquired by Afghan authorities, have been recovered during counter-terrorism operations against the TTP.

Escalating Terrorism in Pakistan

Recent reports, such as the Global Terrorism Index 2025, indicate a sharp increase in terrorism-related incidents in Pakistan. The country witnessed a 45% rise in terrorism-related deaths, with fatalities increasing from 748 in 2023 to 1,081 in 2024. The number of terror attacks more than doubled, surpassing 1,000 incidents for the first time since the index’s inception. This surge coincides with the Taliban’s ascension to power in Afghanistan.

International Counter-Terrorism Efforts

In a significant development, Pakistani authorities, acting on intelligence from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), arrested Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, a key operative of ISIS-Khorasan. Sharifullah is implicated in the 2021 Abbey Gate suicide bombing at Kabul Airport, which claimed the lives of at least 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members. Following his capture, Sharifullah was extradited to the United States to face charges related to the attack.