Confirm terrorists are threat to neighbouring country
China, Russia and Iran have confirmed that several terrorist groups including outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Majid Brigade, and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) are operating from Afghanistan and posing a threat to a neighbouring country.
A quadrilateral meeting of Pakistan, China, Russia and Iran held in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session on September 27. While China, Russia and Iran were represented by their respective Foreign Ministers, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif attended the huddle on behalf of Pakistan.
A joint statement issued on Sunday, contrary to the interim Afghan government’s claims, expressed serious concerns over the presence of several terrorist groups in Afghanistan.
“The Ministers expressed deep concern over the security situation related to terrorism in Afghanistan, noting that terrorist groups such as ISIL, Al-Qaida, the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish ul-Adl, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other similar groups in the region including Majeed Brigade, as well as others, based in Afghanistan, continue to pose a serious threat to regional and global security,” read the joint statement.
The Ministers condemned the recent terrorist attacks in all shapes and forms in Afghanistan and the region, including the attacks by ISIL-K on Karbala pilgrims on 13 September 2024 and the attacks by TTP in Bannu and Besham in Pakistan on 15 July and 26 March 2024, respectively.
The Ministers expressed deep concern over the terrorism-related security situation in Afghanistan and the region and stressed the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, as well as principles of equal indivisible security, examine regional security issues from a more comprehensive and integrated perspective, and work together to address various security challenges in Afghanistan and the region.
The four countries called on strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels. “Afghanistan should be supported in taking comprehensive measures to address both the symptoms and root causes of terrorism and to eradicate terrorism at an early date,” according to the statement.
Meanwhile, all the four countries reiterated their support for Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, political independence, unity, and territorial integrity. They reaffirmed principles of international law, particularly non-interference in its internal affairs, and the right of the Afghan people to independently decide the future of their country in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter.—Agencies
