The Foreign Office on Thursday said a recent report released by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) clearly supports Pakistan’s long-standing position on multiple terrorist organizations operating from Afghan territory.
“The presence of terrorist elements in Afghanistan poses a serious threat to regional peace and security,” spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told a weekly press briefing. “The continued existence of militant groups in Afghanistan is also undermining efforts aimed at internal stability and development in the country,” he said, noting the report had made specific reference to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other foreign terrorist elements.
The spokesperson emphasized that militant groups remain the single biggest obstacle to stable relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, adding Islamabad would continue to support sustained diplomatic engagement in the region to address shared security challenges.
The UNSC report rejects the Afghan Taliban’s claims of militants not using their territory for cross-border attacks, describing the assertion as unsubstantiated. It warns that countries in the region increasingly view Afghanistan as a growing source of regional instability. It also notes internal differences within the Taliban leadership over the TTP, with some senior figures viewing the group as damaging to relations with Pakistan, while others continue to support it. It says close links persist between Al Qaeda and the Taliban, while Daesh-K is the regime’s principal rival.
During his briefing, Andrabi maintained Pakistan possesses evidence showing cross-border support for terrorists in the country. He said Pakistan had implemented the ceasefire with Afghanistan in good faith, regretting the other side had not honored the arrangement. Resultantly, he said, cross-border attacks have continued and the ceasefire has effectively failed.
Indus Water Treaty
The spokesperson also accused India of reigniting a “water war” by abruptly releasing a large volume of water into the Chenab River at Head Marala before sharply reducing the flow to between 870 and 1,000 cusecs for four consecutive days. “Pakistan views these variations with extreme concern and seriousness. They suggest unilateral release of water into the Chenab River by India without prior notification or data sharing,” he said.
Andrabi said Pakistan had approached India through the Indus Water Commissioner, seeking details and clarification in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Indus Waters Treaty. He noted that such unilateral actions, particularly during the critical agricultural season, directly threaten the lives, livelihoods, food security, and economic well-being of Pakistani citizens.
On April 23, India unilaterally suspended the treaty, with the Court of Arbitration later clarifying that the treaty did not allow for any such action and it remained legally binding. Islamabad has warned Delhi that any arbitrary stoppage of water would be considered an act of war.
Australia shooting
During the briefing, Andrabi also condemned the recent terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in Australia. “We strongly condemn this attack on the religious gathering and extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” he said, adding Pakistan stands in solidarity with the people and the government of Australia and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
He also slammed attempts to link the attack to Pakistan, calling such assertions “regrettable and irresponsible.” He said the proliferation of fake news had exposed an innocent individual and their family to serious risk and pointed to Indian media outlets as spreading false information and propaganda regarding the incident.
Emphasizing that investigations had found the attacker was of Indian origin and held an Indian passport, he said the inaccurate reporting had seriously damaged the credibility of Indian media. He urged Indian media outlets to adopt a responsible and professional approach.
Additionally, referring to the recent mistreatment of a Muslim woman by the chief minister of India’s Bihar state, the Foreign Office spokesperson said the forcible removal of a Muslim woman’s hijab by a political leader was deeply disturbing and warranted strong condemnation.
“The action risks normalizing the humiliation of Muslim women in India. The conduct also demonstrates public disrespect of India’s religious minorities, particularly its Muslim citizens,” he said, lamenting that it reflected a broader and troubling pattern associated with Hindutva inspired politics.
“We urge all responsible stakeholders and the Indian government to recognize the seriousness of this incident and to reaffirm their commitment to the protection of minority rights, respect for religious freedom and the preservation of human dignity,” he said.