Pakistan, China, Russia, and Iran Identify Afghanistan-Based Terror Groups as Global ‘Threats’
Top ministers of China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan have said they were ready to expand economic and trade cooperation and promote regional connectivity with Afghanistan.
Pakistan, China, Russia, and Iran have acknowledged the threat posed by terrorist groups operating out of Afghanistan, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Majid Brigade, and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
The quadrilateral meeting was held in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session on September 27, according to a joint statement issued on Sunday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi, China’s Wang Yi, and Pakistans’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif attended the four-way meeting of the foreign ministers regarding Afghanistan.
The development can be regarded as a major diplomatic success for Pakistan.
The joint statement issued on Sunday after a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly condemned terrorism in all forms and called for Afghanistan to take verifiable steps to combat these groups.
The countries emphasized enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation, economic support for Afghanistan, and the importance of regional peace, stability, and inclusive governance.
The meeting also highlighted the need for international assistance in addressing Afghanistan’s ongoing challenges.
“The Ministers expressed deep concern over the security situation related to terrorism in Afghanistan, noting that terrorist groups such as ISIL, Al-Qaida, the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish ul-Adl, BalochistanLiberation Army (BLA) and other similar groups in the region including Majeed Brigade, as well as others, based in Afghanistan, continue to pose a serious threat to regional and global security,” read the joint statement.
The Ministers condemned the recent terrorist attacks in all shapes and forms in Afghanistan and the region, including the attacks by ISIL-K on Karbala pilgrims on 13 September 2024 and the attacks by TTP in Bannu and Besham in Pakistan on 15 July and 26 March 2024, respectively.
