By The South Asia Times

NEW YORK -  Pakistan has warned the UN Security Council that Afghanistan is again becoming a safe haven for militant groups, accusing the Taliban of failing to take “concrete and verifiable” action against organizations operating from Afghan soil.

Speaking at a Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said terrorism remained at the center of Afghanistan’s security challenges and was having a direct impact on neighboring countries.

“Over the last three years alone, more than 4,700 innocent Pakistanis have lost their lives to terrorism emanating from Afghanistan,” Ahmad said, describing Pakistan as the country most directly affected by the security situation.

He said Pakistan had expected the Taliban to act against militant organizations operating from Afghanistan but alleged that they had failed to address Islamabad’s security concerns.

Ahmad specifically mentioned the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade, Islamic State Khorasan (ISIL-K), and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), along with their affiliates.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan-based militants of conducting attacks inside Pakistan. Taliban authorities have rejected allegations that Afghan territory is being used against neighboring countries and have said they do not allow militant groups to operate independently from Afghanistan.

- Pakistan warns of weapons left after foreign withdrawal

Ahmad also raised concerns over advanced weapons and equipment, including drones, and large stockpiles of arms and ammunition left behind following the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan.

He said the weapons continued to pose a security threat to Afghanistan and the wider region.

Pakistan called on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to provide greater reporting on the illicit trade and accumulation of small arms and light weapons and their diversion within Afghanistan and neighboring countries.

Ahmad also urged UNAMA to examine what he described as Afghanistan's illicit economy and its links to terrorist financing and money laundering through Hundi and Hawala networks.

- Pakistan says it will defend itself

The Pakistani envoy said Islamabad could not remain passive in the face of attacks it attributes to militants based in Afghanistan.

“Pakistan cannot sit idle in the face of this terrorist onslaught,” he told the council, adding that Pakistan would respond in self-defense when necessary and in accordance with international law.

Ahmad also accused the Taliban of failing to publicly condemn militant organizations, saying Islamabad viewed this as evidence of their alleged support for such groups.

- Pakistan highlights humanitarian assistance

Despite its security concerns, Pakistan said it had continued to facilitate humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

Ahmad said Pakistan had engaged with Afghanistan at senior levels, facilitated humanitarian relief, provided visa exemptions for vulnerable Afghans and offered trade and transit incentives.

According to the Pakistani envoy, at least 687 humanitarian cargo trucks entered Afghanistan through Pakistan during the reporting period cited in the UN secretary-general's report.

He also said Pakistan had hosted millions of Afghan refugees over more than four decades despite limited international assistance.

- Pakistan criticizes Taliban restrictions on women

The Pakistani ambassador also criticized the Taliban's policies toward women and girls, saying restrictions on their fundamental freedoms and access to public life represented a deterioration in the country's human rights situation.

He pointed to the Islamabad Declaration adopted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) during the ninth Ministerial Conference on Women hosted by Pakistan in July, which expressed concern over restrictions on Afghan women and girls.

Ahmad said the restrictions were inconsistent with Islamic values, according to the declaration.

- Islamabad backs UN-led Doha process

Pakistan said it supported continued international engagement with Afghanistan through the UN-led Doha Process, including what it called the “Mosaic approach” for addressing the country's political, humanitarian, economic and security challenges.

Ahmad said Afghanistan's long-term stability required the Taliban to fulfill their international obligations and demonstrate what he called responsible behavior.

“Peace and stability in Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s national interest,” he said, stressing that the two countries share historical, cultural and civilizational links.

Pakistan, he added, remained committed to working with international partners to promote lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan and improve the welfare of its people.