Pakistan calls for decisive action against terrorism in Afghanistan

"Elimination of terrorism within and from Afghanistan remains the highest priority for the international community, Afghanistan's neighbours, and Afghanistan itself," said the envoy at a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan.

The ambassador's remarks come as the country's overall fatalities in terrorist attacks and counter-terror operations reached a six-year high with nearly 1,000 deaths, The News reported in January quoting the Centre for Research and Security Studies's (CRSS) Annual Security Report.

Pakistan has witnessed a significant surge in attacks on security forces in recent months with the militants using advanced weaponry and equipment.

Islamabad has time again called on the interim Afghanistan government to prevent its land from being used by TTP and other militant organisations for carrying out attacks against Pakistan.

Ambassador Akram said that despite progress Afghan interim government in combating Daesh, several other terrorist groups, including Al-Qaeda, TTP, East Turkestan Islamic Movement, and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, continue to operate in Afghanistan.

Pakistan urged the Afghan government to take effective and sustained action against these groups in compliance with several UNSC resolutions.

He emphasised that goals such as investment, social and economic development, and infrastructure projects cannot be achieved as long as these groups operate freely within and from Afghanistan.

The ambassador described TTP as the most direct and serious threat to Pakistan and detailed it's terrorist activities, which have resulted in hundreds of civilian and military casualties.

Speaking about the recent cross-border attacks including one that killed several Chinese engineers working on the Dasu hydropower project, the envoy said the TTP has intensified its attacks after acquiring sophisticated weapons.

Akram said that the TTP's safe havens near Pakistan's borders persist despite Islamabad's repeated calls for the Afghan government to take action against the militant organisation.

He urged the UNSC to call on the Afghan government to sever its links with the TTP and its associates, prevent cross-border attacks against Pakistan, disarm terrorists, and capture and hand over TTP leaders to Pakistan.