Shafaqna Pakistan: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has strongly condemned the suicide bombing in Swat that claimed at least 16 lives, as Pakistan reiterated its concerns over the continued presence of militant groups operating from alleged safe havens inside Afghanistan.
In a statement issued through the office of the UN secretary-general’s spokesperson, the Security Council described the August 2 attack outside a police station in Kabal, Swat, as a “heinous and cowardly” act of terrorism.
The suicide bombing killed at least 16 Pakistani nationals, most of them civilians, and injured dozens more. The attack was claimed by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The UNSC expressed solidarity with Pakistan and offered condolences to the families of those killed while wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
The council stressed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remains one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. It called for those responsible for the attack, including its perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors, to be held accountable and brought to justice.
UN member states were urged to cooperate with Pakistan in bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
The council also reiterated that terrorist acts were criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, location or perpetrators, and called on all countries to fulfil their obligations under the UN Charter and international law.
Pakistan highlights Afghan-based militant groups
The UNSC statement came days after Pakistan warned the council that several militant organisations were operating from safe havens inside Afghanistan.
Speaking at a UN briefing on terrorist threats to international peace and security, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, said the country continued to face a serious threat from across its western border.
He named the banned TTP, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade, Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) and its affiliates, East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), and Al Qaeda affiliates among the groups that maintain sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
Pakistan called on the international community to ensure that Afghan territory was not used to launch terrorist attacks against neighbouring countries and urged greater international cooperation to counter cross-border terrorism.
The developments came shortly after the fourth US-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue in Washington, where officials from both countries reaffirmed their commitment to combating militant organisations.
Source: Dunya News
