Terror Report by UN Absolves Pakistan

In its recent report, the United Nations has absolved Pakistan of all responsibility related to threats posed to the region and the country. These threats largely come from terror outfits such as Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Hizbul-Ahrar (HuA), as well as their affiliates operating out of Afghanistan. This was announced on Sunday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).  

In the past, Pakistan has tried to draw the attention of the international community to all the support that is provided to the TTP, along with its affiliates, by the hostile intelligence agencies. The statement released by the MoFA indicated that the result of this support was the merger between HuA, JuA, and various other splinter groups belonging to LeJ (Lashkare-Jhangvi), and the TTP in Afghanistan. All these relevant groups joined forces just last year. 

The UN Analytical and Monitoring Team also published their 27th Report on the 3rd of February. It noted that the TTP was believed to have personally supervised the reunification of some of the splinter groups in Afghanistan. It further confirmed that Pakistan had made several arrests of any and all individuals who have been engaging in terrorism financing. In addition, the relevant authority in the country sought out the assets of these designated entities and individuals and froze them. 

The statement further revealed that Pakistan had also, in the past, questioned the cross-border attacks that had been carried out by the TTP. The terror outfit had carried out atrocities against the security forces that the country had deployed on its own side of the border. 

It observed that the country had acknowledged the efforts made by UNMT in exposing the sponsored collusion of the hostile agencies against Pakistani elements in Afghanistan. 

Pakistan is hoping that a dedicated effort will be developed by RSM and ANDSF to neutralize the threat that is emanating from Afghanistan, according to MoFA. 

The ministry further noted that the country is going to stand firm in its resolve to join forces with the international community and battle terrorism. The UN Report informed that Afghanistan still serves as a sanctuary for terror groups seeking refuge from the law. This also includes TTP. 

The document of the UN claimed that the reunion of terror groups was personally moderated by Al-Qaeda. The formation was supposed to increase the threat that terrorist outfits pose to Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the surrounding region. 

The report provided added insight by stating that a total of five entities pledged their allegiance to TTP back in July and August. This included the JuA, HuA, Shehryar Mehsud group, Usman Saifullah group, which was formerly referred to as Lashkare-Jhangvi, and the Amjad Farooqi group. 

According to the report, soon after the reunification of these terror groups in the country of Afghanistan, the strength of TTP has been amplified. In addition, the number of attacks in the region has sharply increased. 

The statement asserted that the UN wholly blamed the TTP for carrying out more than 100 cross-border attacks between the months of July and October last year.