In a high-stakes session at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Friday, February 13, 2026, Pakistan issued a stern call to the Taliban authorities to prevent Afghan territory from being utilized as a launchpad for regional terrorism. The remarks coincide with the unanimous adoption of a U.S.-drafted resolution renewing the mandate of the Monitoring Team for the 1988 Afghanistan Sanctions Committee until February 17, 2027.
I delivered the Explanation of Vote (EOV) after the adoption of the 1988 Mandate Renewal of the Monitoring Team for the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Regime by the UN Security Council.
Following are key highlights of my statement:
➡️ Pakistan voted in favor of this resolution that… pic.twitter.com/dgkCWL7ih9
— Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, PR of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanPR_UN) February 12, 2026
The Message to the Taliban
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, underscored that the international community has spoken with a “unanimous voice.” He warned that the Taliban must choose between “isolation or peace and prosperity” by actively dismantling terrorist safe havens.
Pakistan specifically highlighted the threat posed by:
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Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
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Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) & Majeed Brigade
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ISIL-K (Islamic State Khorasan)
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Al Qaeda
“The Council sends a clear message: Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country,” Ambassador Ahmad stated, urging the Taliban to implement sustained and verifiable counter-terrorism measures.
Context of Escalating Violence
The diplomatic appeal follows a period of extreme volatility in Pakistan. Just last Friday, a devastating suicide attack at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra in Islamabad claimed 36 lives—the deadliest attack in the capital in over a decade. Additionally, recent coordinated strikes in Balochistan, claimed by the BLA as part of “Operation Heroof,” resulted in the deaths of 92 terrorists and 15 security personnel.
Data from 2025 indicates a sharp escalation in the militant threat, with 1,588 terrorism-related incidents reported in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa alone—a 50% increase from the previous year.
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UNSC Report Validates Pakistan’s Position
Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi recently confirmed that the UNSC’s 1267 Sanctions Committee report corroborates Islamabad’s findings: the TTP has gained significant operational space and support in Afghanistan since the 2021 government transition. Pakistan further warned against “external spoilers”—alleging that groups like the BLA are acting as proxies to destabilize the nation through hybrid warfare.
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