• All members urged to cooperate actively with Pakistan in fight against terrorism
• Need stressed to hold perpetrators, facilitators of terror accountable

WASHINGTON: The United Nations Security Council on Thursday strongly condemned the suicide bombing in Swat district of Pakistan, calling it a “heinous and cowardly” terrorist attack, a day after Pakistan warned the Council that multiple terrorist groups continue to operate from safe havens inside Afghanistan.

In a press statement issued by the Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Security Council members condemned the Aug 2 suicide attack outside a police station in Kabal, Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which killed at least 16 Pakistanis, most of them civilians, and injured dozens more.

The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.

“The members of the Security Council condemn in the strongest terms, the heinous and cowardly suicide terrorist attack outside a police station in Kabal, Swat District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, on 2 August 2026,” the Council said.

It added that, “This reprehensible act of terrorism resulted in the grievous loss of at least 16 Pakistani nationals, mostly civilians, and injuries to dozens of others. Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for this terrorist attack.”

The Council also expressed solidarity with Pakistan, saying, “The members of the Security Council express their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and the people of Pakistan, and wish a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.”

The statement reaffirmed the international body’s longstanding position that, “Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.”

It further stressed the importance of bringing those responsible to justice, declaring: “The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. They urged all UN member states, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the government of Pakistan in this regard.”

The Security Council also reiterated that “any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed,” and reaffirmed that all countries must combat terrorism in accordance with the UN Charter and international law, including international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.

The Security Council’s statement came a day after Pakistan told a UN Security Council meeting that several terrorist organisations continue to operate from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan, posing an increasing threat to regional and international security.

Addressing a UNSC briefing on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorism, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said Islamabad continues to face a grave terrorist threat emanating from across its western border.

He identified the banned TTP, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade, the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) and its affiliates, the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), and Al Qaeda affiliates as groups that, according to Pakistan, maintain safe havens in Afghanistan.

Pakistan urged the international community to ensure that Afghan territory is not used by terrorist organisations to launch attacks against neighbouring countries and called for stronger international cooperation against cross-border terrorism.

The developments also followed the fourth US-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue held in Washington on Tuesday, where officials from both countries reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorist organisations and expanding cooperation against threats emanating from Afghanistan.

Counterterrorism remains one of the few areas where Islamabad and Washington continue to share a strong convergence of interests despite broader differences in bilateral relations.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026