TTP emerging as umbrella body for terror groups: Pakistan

Akram said Afghanistan's situation continues to be dire, 'deeply concerning' even three years into Taliban rule

UNITED NATIONS:

A top Pakistani diplomat on Wednesday told the UN Security Council that the Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP), which has Afghan rulers' protection, was emerging as an umbrella organisation for other terrorist groups, whose objectives, he said, were the destabilization of Afghanistan's neighbours.

"While some of our friends may believe that they are only threatened by Daesh, they should also be concerned by the threat they could confront from a strengthened TTP in the not too distant future," Ambassador Munir Akram warned the 15-member Council during its debate in the situation in Afghanistan.

Pakistan, he said, will take national action, cooperating with regional and international organizations to eliminate TTP's threat.

"The TTP (which we in Pakistan call Fitna Al Khawarij) is an organization of special concern to Pakistan and should be of concern to the entire region and the world," the Pakistani envoy said, while giving details of its deadly cross-border attacks that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and soldiers..

Even three years after the Taliban assumed the reins of power in Afghanistan, the situation continues to be dire and deeply concerning, Ambassador Akram said. There will be no normalization "until the fundamental issues that trouble Afghanistan are addressed - terrorism, human rights, political inclusion, illegal Afghan migration and the problem of Afghan refugees."

"Terrorism within and from Afghanistan poses the single most serious threat to the country, to the region and to the world, he said, highlighting a recent United Nations report describing TTP as "the largest terrorist group" in that country which receives growing support from Taliban rulers to conduct cross-border attacks in Pakistan.