Quartet warns of Afghan terror threat

Pakistan, China, Iran and Russia on Friday expressed "deep concern" over the presence of terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan, warning that outfits such as ISIL, al-Qaeda, the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and others continue to threaten regional and global security.

The four countries issued a joint statement after their fourth quadrilateral meeting on Afghanistan held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly session in New York. The gathering, convened at the invitation of Russia, brought together foreign ministers of the four states to review the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.

According to the statement, the ministers urged the Afghan authorities to take "effective, concrete and verifiable actions" against terrorist networks, including dismantling their training camps, cutting off financing, and preventing recruitment and access to weapons. They also called for non-discriminatory elimination of all militant outfits and stressed that Afghan soil must not be used against its neighbors or beyond.

Pakistan, in particular, has repeatedly raised alarm over cross-border attacks by the TTP and other terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil. Islamabad has urged the Taliban authorities to take "verifiable action" against such outfits, warning that failure to do so undermines regional stability.

Similarly, Iran has accused Afghan-based groups like Jaish ul-Adl of staging attacks across its border, while China fears the presence of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which it sees as a threat to its western Xinjiang region. Russia, too, remains concerned about militant networks expanding their reach into Central Asia.

The four sides also underlined support for Afghanistan as an "independent, united, and peaceful state, free from terrorism, war and narcotics." They commended Kabul's efforts to reduce opium cultivation but raised alarm over the rising production of synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine, calling for coordinated regional and international action to combat narcotics trafficking.

On refugees, the ministers urged the Taliban authorities to create conditions for the safe and sustainable return of millions of Afghans displaced abroad. They praised Pakistan and Iran for hosting large refugee populations and pressed the international community to shoulder its responsibility through sustained financial and technical support.

The statement reiterated calls for an inclusive political setup in Afghanistan that represents all ethnic and religious groups, while stressing the importance of women and girls' access to education, employment, public life, and basic services.

The four countries also said NATO states must bear "primary responsibility" for Afghanistan's current plight, urging them to return frozen Afghan assets and lift unilateral sanctions. They rejected the re-establishment of foreign military bases in or around Afghanistan, warning such moves would undermine regional stability.

The foreign ministers further welcomed ongoing regional initiatives, including the Moscow Format and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's engagement on Afghanistan, and pledged to continue quadrilateral consultations.