Pakistan has warned the United Nations that the unchecked flow of advanced weapons to terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan poses a direct and growing threat to regional security.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, raised the issue during the UN Security Council Open Debate on Small Arms, emphasizing Islamabad’s deep concern about developments in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan is seriously concerned about the stockpiles of sophisticated arms and ammunition in Afghanistan, as highlighted in the Secretary-General’s reports,” he told the council. “These weapons pose a direct threat to neighboring countries.”
The Pakistani and Afghan militaries clashed last month, resulting in dozens of casualties—the worst violence since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. While both sides signed a ceasefire in Doha in October, negotiations in Istanbul stalled due to disagreements over militant groups hostile to Pakistan that operate from Afghan territory.
Ambassador Ahmad highlighted the presence of groups such as Fitna-al-Khawarij, Fitna-al-Hindustan, Daesh-K, TTP, BLA, and Majeed Brigade, which have used sophisticated weapons against Pakistani civilians and law enforcement, resulting in the loss of thousands of innocent lives. He stressed that Pakistan expects concrete and verifiable action by the Afghan Taliban against these groups.
Citing smuggling networks, Ahmad said, “Weapons confiscated at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border are traced to stockpiles left behind by foreign forces and illegal black-market sales in Afghanistan. The movement of unmarked arms across borders sustains non-state armed groups, terrorist networks, and criminal gangs, undermining regional security.”
He further noted the human and socio-economic impact of illicit arms, saying, “Small Arms and Light Weapons are neither small nor light. They impede development, contribute to human rights abuses, and threaten peace and stability.”
Ambassador Ahmad also addressed modern challenges in arms proliferation, including unmanned aerial vehicles, AI-based weapons, 3D-printed firearms, and high-tech night-vision devices. He highlighted the role of cryptocurrency and the dark web in evading detection of illegal arms transfers.
Calling for international cooperation, Ahmad stressed that the UN Programme of Action on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons should be fully implemented globally, balancing the legitimate security needs of states with measures to control illicit arms supply and demand.
“New technologies present new challenges but also open avenues for effective control and cooperation. The international community must act comprehensively and in a balanced manner to safeguard regional and global peace,” he concluded.
