New York: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has warned that the growing access of terrorist groups in Afghanistan to illegal weapons poses a serious threat to regional peace and stability.

Addressing a session of the UN Security Council, Ambassador Ahmad said that terrorist organizations are “openly operating” from Afghan territory and are receiving financial and operational support from a major disruptive actor in the region.

He expressed deep concern that Daesh, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), and the Majeed Brigade are using advanced weapons and ammunition against Pakistani citizens and law enforcement agencies, resulting in the loss of thousands of innocent lives.

The ambassador underscored Pakistan’s alarm over the presence of large stockpiles of sophisticated arms in Afghanistan, stressing that such weaponry continues to fuel cross-border terrorism.

Calling on the international community to take urgent action, Asim Iftikhar urged global actors to prevent terrorist organizations in Afghanistan from acquiring illegal arms and to hold the Afghan interim authorities accountable for their responsibilities and commitments.

He further emphasized the need to strengthen and modernize the global arms control system, particularly in light of emerging technologies, and called for closing existing gaps in the international response to illicit weapons trafficking.

“Ensuring that terrorist groups are denied access to weapons is essential for peace, security, and stability in the region,” the ambassador concluded.