Pakistan has called for coordinated global efforts to intercept the illicit flow of advanced weapons that support terrorist groups like Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which operate from safe havens in Afghanistan to launch attacks on Pakistan. Syed Atif Raza, a counsellor at the Pakistan Mission to the UN, made this call during an Arria-Formula meeting of the UN Security Council convened by Sierra Leone, reads a DAWN post.
“Terrorist armed groups are in possession of billions worth of illicit arms abandoned in Afghanistan,” Raza said. He highlighted that these weapons are being used by the TTP, BLA, and its Majeed Brigade to perpetrate violence against both civilians and Pakistani armed forces. The Arria-Formula meeting format allows UNSC members to hear from non-state actors and experts in an informal setting, with a focus on topics like small arms control.
Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan have been increasingly strained due to ongoing border skirmishes and Islamabad’s repeated requests for Kabul to take action against the TTP. However, Afghanistan has denied these allegations. During the debate on “Small Arms and Light Weapons Management in UN Sanctions Regimes,” Raza emphasized that illicit arms trafficking is worsening violence and instability in the region, with these weapons now more advanced and widely accessible.
“These terrorist entities also receive external support and financing from our principal adversary,” Raza pointed out, alluding to India without explicitly naming it. He called on the international community to assist in recovering the vast stockpiles of weapons left behind in Afghanistan and to close the black market that supplies these arms to terrorist organizations. Raza underscored that these arms aggravate conflicts, disrupt socio-economic progress, and pose a major threat to peace and security.
Raza’s statements echoed those made earlier by Pakistan's UN Ambassador Munir Akram. In a UNSC briefing on Afghanistan, Akram accused Kabul authorities of failing to address the growing threats posed by terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda, TTP, and BLA, which continue to operate with impunity on Afghan soil. Pakistan’s Foreign Office has also raised concerns about the presence of US-made weapons in Afghanistan following the 2021 US withdrawal, which are now being used by groups like the TTP to carry out attacks in Pakistan.
The increasing sophistication of illicit arms is complicating efforts to combat terrorism, with non-state actors gaining access to advanced weaponry that they could not manufacture themselves. Raza questioned the responsibility of certain state actors in facilitating the illegal arms trade, stressing the need for accountability.
Pakistan has repeatedly called for global action to prevent terrorist groups from obtaining illicit arms and to close the gaps that allow the black market to thrive. As the international community works to address the issue of small arms proliferation, Pakistan’s plea highlights the critical need for coordinated global action to prevent further violence and instability in the region.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
