In what is being regarded as a major diplomatic victory for Pakistan, the country has secured crucial backing from global powers, including China, Russia, and Iran, in exposing the threat posed by terrorist organizations operating from Afghanistan.
These organizations include outlawed groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Majid Brigade, and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The joint acknowledgment of these threats marks a significant step in Pakistan’s efforts to highlight the risks emanating from its neighbor and build a unified front to combat terrorism in the region.
The diplomatic victory came during a quadrilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session on September 27, 2024 in New York. Foreign ministers of China, Russia, and Iran attended the meeting, while Pakistan was represented by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. This gathering of high-level officials allowed the four nations to openly discuss the grave security concerns in Afghanistan and the broader region.
Following the meeting, a joint statement was issued, which debunked claims by the Afghan Taliban that no terrorist groups were being harbored within Afghanistan. Contrary to the Afghan interim government’s assertions, the statement confirmed that various terrorist organizations, including the TTP, ISIL, Al-Qaeda, the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Jaish ul-Adl, the BLA, and the Majid Brigade, continue to use Afghan territory to launch attacks. This admission from such major powers reinforces Pakistan’s diplomatic victory in highlighting the threat these groups pose to regional peace and security.
The ministers also condemned recent terrorist attacks, including those carried out by ISIL-Khorasan against Karbala pilgrims on September 13, 2024, and TTP attacks in Pakistan’s Bannu and Besham regions earlier this year. These incidents illustrate the continuing instability in Afghanistan and the region’s vulnerability to terrorism.
The ministers emphasized the need for a collective, comprehensive, and sustainable approach to security, highlighting Pakistan’s diplomatic victory in galvanizing international action against these threats.
The joint statement stressed the importance of strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels. It called for Afghanistan to be supported in taking decisive measures to address the root causes of terrorism, and to eradicate terrorist networks as early as possible.
In particular, the countries urged the Afghan authorities to take visible and verifiable steps to meet their international obligations and dismantle all terrorist groups without discrimination. This includes preventing the use of Afghan territory to launch attacks against its neighbors, as well as ensuring regional and global security.
The statement also reaffirmed the importance of respecting Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity, while stressing that Afghanistan should be allowed to decide its future without external interference.
The ministers reiterated that a stable and peaceful Afghanistan is in the shared interest of the international community and that the country should be a platform for global cooperation rather than geopolitical competition.
In addition to terrorism, the ministers expressed concern over narcotics production and trafficking in Afghanistan, particularly the rise in synthetic drug production. They commended the Afghan authorities’ efforts to reduce opium cultivation and called for comprehensive measures to combat the narcotics trade.
These measures include dismantling transnational criminal networks involved in drug trafficking and cutting off the trade and transit routes used to smuggle drugs within and beyond the region.
The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan was another key issue addressed during the meeting. The ministers expressed appreciation for countries like Pakistan and Iran, which have hosted millions of Afghan refugees, and urged the international community to provide adequate and sustainable support to these countries.
They called for more international assistance to facilitate the repatriation of Afghan refugees and ensure their reintegration into Afghan society, creating a sustainable solution to the refugee crisis.
The joint statement also emphasized the importance of engaging Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to promote economic stability and development. The ministers supported regional initiatives aimed at uplifting Afghanistan’s economy and integrating it into broader regional trade and cooperation frameworks.
They emphasized the need for inclusive governance in Afghanistan that represents all ethnic and religious groups, including ensuring women and girls have access to education, work, and basic services. This, they said, would contribute to the country’s long-term peace and prosperity.
The ministers also stressed that NATO members bear primary responsibility for the current plight in Afghanistan. They urged these countries to support Afghanistan’s economic recovery, immediately lift unilateral sanctions, and return Afghanistan’s overseas assets to benefit the Afghan people.
In conclusion, the diplomatic victory achieved by Pakistan during this quadrilateral meeting not only strengthened international recognition of the terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan but also laid the foundation for more coordinated efforts to ensure regional security and stability.
The meeting underscored the importance of collective action in addressing terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, as well as the need for the international community to engage in constructive dialogue with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to secure a peaceful and prosperous future for the country and the region.
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