Usman Jadoon, Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, has claimed that the Pakistani Taliban possesses advanced weaponry and employs it to fuel regional instability and threaten Pakistan's security.
He urged the UN to investigate how the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) acquired such arms.
On Sunday, Dawn, a Pakistani newspaper, reported that Jadoon called the threats posed by diversion, illicit trafficking, and misuse of small arms and light weapons alarming during an open debate of the United Nations Security Council.
He explained that terrorist groups like TTP obtain modern weapons from illicit arms markets or receive them from entities that want to destabilise a particular region or country.
“Terrorists and criminals do not manufacture these advanced arms; instead, they acquire them from illicit markets or entities with intentions to destabilise specific regions or countries,” he stated.
Jadoon announced that Pakistan will work closely with the international community to expose those responsible for supporting and financing TTP.
This Pakistani diplomat emphasised that it is the responsibility of all governments and the United Nations to take measures to prevent illicit trade and transfer of weapons.
Following the Taliban takeover of power in Afghanistan, TTP’s attacks against the Pakistan’s army have increased.
Pakistani authorities have several times said that TTP fighters are using US weapons left in Afghanistan in attacks against security forces of the country.
In September, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson, had announced that the US weapons left in Afghanistan have fallen into the hands of terrorists and are a threat to Pakistan. She said that the situation needs global attention.
