 "Parvathaneni Harish, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), New York, speaks at the quarterly UNSC meeting on Afghanistan. (Photo: X/Permanent Mission of India to the UN)")
India has flagged the presence of Pakistan-supported terrorist groups in Afghanistan at the United Nations (UN) and urged the international community to ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorist activities.
Speaking at the quarterly meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on Afghanistan, Indian UN envoy Parvathaneni Harish said that India has been closely monitoring the security situation in Afghanistan and urged the international community to ensure it does not become a terrorism hotbed.
“The international community must coordinate efforts towards ensuring that entities and individuals designated by the UN Security Council, the ISIL and Al Qaeda and their affiliates, including Lashkar E Taiba and Jaisha Muhammad, along with those who facilitate their operations, no longer exploit Afghan territory for terrorist activities,” said Harish.
However, Harish indicated that India supported the waiver of at least some sanctions on the Taliban regime. Saying that the current business-as-usual approach could not continue, India said that “the Afghan people have not seen much scope for enhanced development assistance and cooperation” under sanctions.
“The most unfortunate earthquake has made the situation even more dire. This is the time for compassion, a time for lending a helping hand to millions of Afghans suffering under the yoke of poverty, disease and hunger. In conclusion, I’d like to reiterate that our commitment to meeting developmental needs of the people of Afghanistan is non negotiable. We will continue engaging with all relevant stakeholders and broadly support the international community’s efforts towards a stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan,” said Harish.
Terrorism finds safe haven in Afghanistan — again
Since the Taliban’s takeover of the country in 2021, Afghanistan has slipped into a state of open competition among various jihadist and Islamist armed groups. While Islamic State (ISIS) is waging a full-scale insurgency against the Taliban regime, groups like Al Qaeda have found safe haven in the country again.
Previously, Al Qaeda planned the 9/11 attack from Afghanistan where the Taliban regime (1996-2001) provided a safe haven to Al Qaeda.
In a sign of renewed patronage that Al Qaeda has found under the Taliban rule, Ayman al-Zawahiri, the group’s chief, was found to be living in Kabul. He was killed in a US airstrike in 2022.
It is an open secret that Pakistan has supported Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups over the years. The country’s intelligence apparatus had played a key role in arranging the finances for Al Qaeda’s 9/11 terrorist attack and both Osama bin Laden, who ordered the attacks, and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who masterminded the attack, were found to be living in Pakistan next doors to key military installations.