Published on: August 21, 2025 10:49 AM
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, strongly criticized the UN Security Council for excluding non-Muslim terrorists from its global terrorist lists, calling the approach “incomprehensible and unacceptable.” He emphasized that such selective practices divide the world and weaken global unity against terrorism, while also reinforcing dangerous double standards that unfairly target Muslims but allow extremist non-Muslims to escape accountability and scrutiny.
Speaking at the Security Council meeting on “Threats to Global Peace from Terrorism,” Ambassador Ahmad warned that biased counterterrorism efforts undermine international trust and credibility. He stressed the importance of developing neutral, transparent, and principled measures that ensure no group is spared accountability based on religious or political identity. Additionally, he highlighted the growing misuse of social media and modern technology by extremist groups to manipulate vulnerable populations, especially youth, toward violent radicalization.
The envoy raised alarm over serious threats facing Pakistan, including Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Baloch Liberation Army, and the Majeed Brigade. He cautioned that cooperation among these groups, particularly from Afghan safe havens, creates major security challenges. While Pakistan continues operations alongside international forces against ISIS-K in Afghanistan, these militant groups remain active and pose a direct danger to both national and regional peace.
Furthermore, Ambassador Ahmad underlined that ISIS remains a global threat, with thousands of fighters operating across Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. He accused India of backing terrorism inside Pakistan and targeting its citizens abroad. He referred to a deadly May attack that killed 54 innocent Pakistanis, including women and children, calling it state-sponsored terrorism masked as counterterrorism, which he described as extremely dangerous and unacceptable.
In his concluding remarks, the Pakistani envoy urged the Security Council to address terrorism comprehensively and fairly, without applying double standards. He insisted that occupation and oppression cannot be justified under the label of counterterrorism, and warned against efforts aimed at maligning the Islamic world. He called for unity, fairness, and strict adherence to international law and human rights in the fight against terrorism.
