Today I delivered Pakistan's statement during the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan.
I highlighted the following points:
➡️ To help our Afghan brethren, Pakistan took numerous steps to support Afghanistan, including humanitarian relief efforts, political engagement, providing incentives to boost bilateral trade, etc.
➡️ With the end of civil war, it was anticipated that the Taliban would take positive steps to transform into a responsible governing authority by adhering to their international obligations and commitments.
➡️ For decades, terrorism has been a major problem in Afghanistan, with implications not just for Afghanistan, but the immediate neighborhood and beyond.
➡️ It was our expectation that the Taliban would take concrete and verifiable actions against terrorist groups such as the TTP, BLA and its Majeed Brigade, ISIL-K, ETIM and their affiliates that are operating with impunity on Afghan soil.
➡️ Regrettably, they have failed to undertake action, showing complete disregard for the legitimate security concerns of Pakistan and other countries.
➡️ As a direct result of the freedom with which these terrorist groups operate in Afghanistan, Pakistan has borne the brunt of their attacks as well as Taliban's growing nexus with these terrorist groups.
➡️ These terrorist groups have access to advanced weapons and sophisticated equipment including drones, also recently, much of which can be traced back to the multi-billion dollar worth of arms and ammunition left behind by foreign forces.
➡️ During our CT operations, there have been more than 290 cases of seizures of such weapons, which are used for terrorism and suicide bombings in the western parts of Pakistan.
➡️ In 2025 alone, Pakistan suffered more than 5,300 terrorist incidents and lost more than 1,200 lives to terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.
➡️ It is deplorable that the Taliban have reverted back to their old tactics of providing safe havens to terrorist groups and chosen the perilous path of complicity, backed by an outside actor, the historic spoiler and instigator of chaos — that has moved fast as an opportunist to wage a proxy war against Pakistan.
➡️ Let me make it clear: Pakistan will defend itself against whosoever attempts to harm our sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security.
➡️ Pakistan has always expressed openness for dialogue. Numerous diplomatic efforts were made to counsel the Taliban.
➡️ We thank friendly countries for their genuine mediation efforts, particularly Qatar, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and most recently, China, to find amicable solutions.
➡️ Yet the Taliban's continued intransigence and even refusal to publicly denounce and condemn terrorist groups such as the TTP and BLA is deeply disturbing — it is evidence enough of their complicity and active support for these groups.
➡️ Pakistan will not sit idle while suffering from terrorist acts. We will respond in self-defense, as and when needed and always in conformity with international law and IHL.
➡️ The most recent report of the Secretary General seems to largely externalize the responsibility for Afghanistan's multifaceted challenges.
➡️ The fatalities of terrorists and their supporters as a result of CT operations are mentioned within the ambit of "civilian casualties", posing serious questions on the credibility of UNAMA's reporting from Afghanistan and the nature of their engagement with the Taliban.
➡️ UNAMA is swift in reporting incidents of cross-border actions and casualties but fails to provide the overall context — which is the grave terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan and its cross-border impact directed at Pakistan that is harming Pakistan and killing innocent Pakistanis.
➡️ We must not lose sight of the fact that it is the Taliban's reckless style of governance and flawed ideologies of extremism, suppression and radicalization that have brought upon Afghanistan the calamities it faces today.
➡️ Several references have been made to the closure of border. Let me clarify that the closure of border between Pakistan and Afghanistan does not, from Pakistan's perspective, affect the movement of humanitarian supplies. Pakistan has been processing and facilitating the passage of humanitarian goods and material.
➡️ For over four decades, Pakistan welcomed millions of Afghan refugees despite limitations and insufficient international support, dealing with huge caseloads of illegal Afghans, including without documentation posing a serious threat to our security. But these were never meant to be indefinite stays.
➡️ While we provide all possible facilitation, the international community must step up and shoulder its responsibility. Shifting the blame of Afghanistan's woes to the inflow of Afghan returnees will not solve the problem.
➡️ No country has suffered more from the consequences of conflict and instability in Afghanistan than Pakistan. So we understand, and we also know, that no country stands to benefit more from peace, prosperity and stability in Afghanistan than Pakistan.
➡️ Pakistan's demand from the Taliban is simple and clear: verifiable and non-reversible action against terrorists. Regrettably, this demand remains unmet. The window for course correction is narrowing but is still open.
India was calling on others to comply with international law and adhere to the dictates of humanity. It would be laughable if we are not aware of India's own record, and if the matter under consideration in the Council was not that serious — for we know that India's true face is truly exposed before the international community. It is a serial violator of international law.
For decades India has been in illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an international dispute on the agenda of this Council, and where it has been engaged in gross and systematic violations of human rights.
- My further statement in the UN Security Council in response to some of the baseless and unwarranted remarks made by Indian representative
Not once did the representative of India condemn the TTP or the BLA – yes, Fitna al Hindustan – who have been carrying out attacks targeting innocent Pakistanis; who have tragically lost their lives at the hands of these terrorists. We are not astonished. We are not surprised at all because we know very well that India's hostile policies and complicity is further validated by the remarks of its representative today, and I seriously believe that this behavior should be a cause of concern for the Security Council and the international community.
- My further statement in the UN Security Council today in response to some of the baseless and unwarranted remarks made by Indian representative
@AQG_045@mbilalghauri Serial 16 is hilarious. Lols. Nokri lagwane ka ye kon sa tareeqa hai. Last demand free Netflix aur free grocery ki bhe honi chahie thi.
Wrote this fresh paper on Pakistan as a Middle Power as part of the @BelferCenter’s (Harvard University) project on Middle Powers that I helped conceive and am part of.
https://t.co/aFmVvarIoo
Pakistan's real GDP per capita income grew by an average of 2.7% per annum from 1999 to 2007. From 2008 to 2024, the average fell to 1.52%. The stagnation is visible and economic growth together with population are daunting challenges.
This is what a DAWN article stated in May 2007:
"The discussions about the potential “population dividend” appear to be out of touch with ground realities. The economy is likely to slow down in 2008 onwards as the liquidity- consumption-driven growth cannot last for more than a few years and is unlikely to sustain the current growth rate in the backdrop of growing political instability, worsening energy crisis, shortage of skilled and educated workers, and a protection-addicted private sector – often lacking management depth - that is struggling to compete internationally."
https://t.co/hfCvrGDGwV
📑“Airpower Under the Nuclear Shadow: Lessons from Operation Sindoor for Limited War Doctrine”
Muhammad Waqas Haider (@LancasterUni) writes that India’s cross-border strikes against Pakistan last May set a dangerous precedent for crisis management between nuclear states.
The implications, he argues, extend far beyond South Asia.
#SWJEssay #India #IndiaPakistanConflict
@LDialogue41385
https://t.co/vXNrFl74bD
Beyond Hybrid Regimes: The Making Of Democracy With Pakistani Characteristics - Dr Saeed Shafqat for @TFT_
"The central paradox of democracy with Pakistani characteristics is therefore clear: the system has proven sufficiently stable to survive, but insufficiently democratic to transform itself."
https://t.co/jX1uZyKf0b
@WalayatMalik1@MarymNSharif Does Singapore have hostile neighbours on both sides? Their total focus is inwards… Ours is outwards like other nations of South Asia and Middle Eastern states. May be revenge of geography.
@thealiwarsi@CherieDamour_ Unfortunately, our ethnic identity is taking huge toll. We barely got rid of religious/ sectarian groups. Now the other giant has awakened. Governments remain entangled in these issues.
Has deterrence failed in South Asia?
The May 2025 India-Pakistan crisis suggests a more complicated answer.
Deterrence did not disappear. It evolved.
In this episode of Mind Over Mic, I unpack five key lessons from the crisis and explain why future conflicts in South Asia may look very different from those of the past.
🔹 Why escalation no longer resembles a ladder but a web
🔹 The dangerous illusion of limited war under the nuclear shadow
🔹 How drones, cyber tools, and long-range precision strikes are expanding the geography of risk
🔹 Why emerging technologies are compressing decision time for leaders
🔹 How information warfare, disinformation, and narrative entrapment are becoming central to crisis dynamics
My central argument is simple: South Asia has not entered a post-deterrence environment. Deterrence remains. But its character is changing.
Watch now and join the conversation.
Suhel Seth wrote a wonderful article on Indians. My take on it -
A superb article. The problem is not money, infrastructure, or GDP. It is a lack of values.
Indians got rich faster than they got civilized. We built airports, malls, gated communities, and expressways - but forgot to build respect, courtesy, and consideration for others.
A nation’s character is revealed not by its tallest skyscraper, but by whether its people stand in line, refrain from littering, respect public spaces, and treat strangers with dignity.
Development without values is merely wealth wrapped around disorder.
@thewirepak@PMofAJK Ali bhai. Please raise voice of millions in Sukkur division who are deprived of electricity in this blazing heat from last four days. Children & poor people are suffering while PPP leaders are begging voted in GB. Corrupt PPP leaders & workers are shameless creatures.
@BBhuttoZardari
There is no electricity in Sukkur Division from last four days and people are suffering like animals in the heat of 52 degree while PPP leaders are begging for votes in GB. Such morally corrupt govt in Sindh.
Enduring PPP / TTP is also Jihad.
@thewirepak
By refusing to implement Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, India continues to disregard its obligations under the UN Charter, including Article 25, which requires Member States to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council.
India's efforts to divert attention through allegations against Pakistan cannot conceal its own troubling record: sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, perpetrating state terrorism in the IIOJK, conducting state-backed assassination campaigns in foreign countries, stoking violence against minorities, support for destabilizing activities in the region and disregard for international law, including its unlawful attempt to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.
Counsellor Gul Qaiser Sarwani, who is also a Political Coordinator at the Pakistan Mission, claps back at the Indian representative during the General Assembly session on the presentation of the Security Council Annual Report
Please listen to Pakistan's Right of Reply (RoR)