Pakistan and India exchanged sharp remarks at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) during a debate on Afghanistan, with both sides raising concerns over cross-border attacks and terrorism.

 

India’s Permanent Representative Parvathaneni Harish said that his country “reiterates UNSG’s deep concern at civilian casualties caused by cross-border violence and strongly condemns airstrikes which are flagrant violations of international law, UN Charter and state sovereignty." 

 

He also expressed “grave concern on ‘trade and transit terrorism’” and said “these vulnerabilities of Land-Locked Developing Countries should not be weaponised”.

 

Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d’affaires ad interim of Afghanistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN, addressed the council. He highlighted civilian casualties in the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict and emphasised the need to counter terrorism, but did not mention Al Qaeda, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or other militant groups.

 

Responding to the statements, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said he felt compelled to take the floor after hearing remarks from India and Afghanistan.

 

Ahmad said that given “India’s animosity towards Pakistan and the sole objective of its Afghan policy being to destabilise Pakistan, including by actively supporting and sponsoring terrorist groups, operating from Afghan soil, such as TTP and BLA," India’s remarks were expected.

 

He noted that the Indian representative spoke about civilian casualties and border clashes but “had not a word about the terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan, which has targeted Pakistan and which many Council members have highlighted in their statements." 

 

“But there is a reason for that. It is India’s complicity in all of this,” Ahmad said, adding that Pakistan had provided “irrefutable evidence of India’s collusion with terrorist groups that are engaged in orchestrating violent attacks against Pakistan”.

 

He said, “One can sense India’s pain in seeing its heavy investment in the Afghan terrorist franchise going to waste as a result of Pakistan’s precise and effective action against terrorist camps and support bases inside Afghanistan.”

 

Ahmad described India as “a serial violator of international law”, accusing it of illegally occupying territory, violating the UN Charter and UNSC resolutions, carrying out state terrorism in India-occupied Kashmir, marginalising minorities, and using disinformation as state policy.

 

On Faiq, Ahmad said, “The so-called representative of Afghanistan, who in fact does not represent anyone but himself, must not abuse this forum to pursue his personal agenda.” 

He added that Faiq, “sequestered in New York”, was “completely cut off from ground realities” and had “chosen to selectively comment on some aspects of the situation, particularly with reference to Pakistan”. “Therefore, the value and credibility of his remarks are in serious doubt,” he said.

Ahmad emphasised that Pakistan’s legitimate counter-terrorism operations are not directed against the brotherly people of Afghanistan, and are only meant to neutralise the persistent threat of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil. He added that these actions were in full conformity with the right to self-defence and international humanitarian law.

 

He said Faiq “had nothing to say about cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan that is so heavily impacting Pakistan in terms of casualties among civilians, among our armed forces, law enforcement agencies and infrastructure”.

 

Ahmad further said that while India had “always played the role of a spoiler in Afghanistan,” Pakistan had “engaged responsibly in promoting peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan”.

He added that these objectives could only be achieved if the Taliban authorities fulfilled their commitments on counter-terrorism, inclusive governance, and the rights of Afghan women and girls.

 Ahmad urged India to “cease and desist from its policy of stoking terrorism inside Pakistan from Afghan soil, now together with their newfound friends in the Taliban regime”, adding that Pakistan would not allow “their sabotage and subversion from Afghan soil to nourish and harm Pakistan”.