• Exchange took place after New Delhi’s representative condemned Pakistan for carrying out air strikes on TTP hideouts
• Chinese envoy says Beijing working to reduce Islamabad-Kabul tensions

WASHINGTON: Pakistan and India exchanged strong words at a United Nations Security Council meeting during a debate on Afghanistan, with Islamabad defending its counter-terrorism actions and New Delhi condemning cross-border air strikes.

The exchange followed remarks by Naseer Ahmad Faiq, who serves as interim charge d’affaires of Afghanistan’s permanent mission to the United Nations.

Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities are not represented at the UN and do not recognise Mr Faiq.

In his statement, Naseer Faiq highlighted civilian casualties during the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict and stressed the need to fight terrorism. He did not, however, mention Al Qaeda, the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or other groups.

In his reply, Pakistan’s Perma­nent Representative, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said he was compelled to take the floor again after listening to remarks by the Af­g­han and Indian representatives.

The so called representative of Afghanistan, who in fact does not represent anyone but himself, must not abuse this forum to pursue his personal agenda,” he said. Describing Mr Faiq as “sequestered in New York”, he added that he was “completely cut off from ground realities” and had “chosen to selectively comment on some aspects of the situation, particularly with reference to Pakistan”.

“Therefore, the value and credibility of his remarks are in serious doubt,” the Pakistani envoy said.

Ambassador Asim Ahmad stated that Pakistan’s “legitimate counter-terrorism operations are not directed against the brotherly people of Afghanistan, and are only meant to neutralise the persistent threat of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil.”

He said Pakistan’s actions were “in full conformity with the right to self-defence and international humanitarian law”.

Asim Ahmad said Mr Faiq had “nothing to say about the cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan that is so heavily impacting Pakistan in terms of casualties among civilians, among our armed forces, law enforcement agencies and infrastructure”.

India’s animosity

Turning to India, Pakistan’s representative said the remarks by the Indian representative came as no surprise given “India’s animosity towards Pakistan and the sole objective of its Afghan policy being to destabilise Pakistan, including by actively supporting and sponsoring terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, such as TTP and BLA”.

He said India’s representative spoke at length about the security situation in Afghanistan, mentioning civilian casualties and border clashes, but “had not a word about the terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan, which has targeted Pakistan and which many Council members have highlighted in their statements”.

“But there is a reason for that. It is India’s complicity in all of this,” he said, adding that Pakistan had provided “irrefutable evidence of India’s collusion with terrorist groups that are engaged in orchestrating violent attacks against Pakistan”.

“One can sense India’s pain in seeing its heavy investment in the Afghan terrorist franchise going to waste as a result of Pakistan’s precise and effective action against terrorist camps and support bases inside Afghanistan,” he said.

Asim Iftikhar Ahmad described India as “a serial violator of international law”, accusing it of illegally occupying territory, violating the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions, perpetrating state terrorism in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and beyond, systematically marginalising minorities, spreading hate, “even weaponising water with the express goal of starving Pakistan’s population”, and using disinformation as a state policy. “And the list goes on,” he added.

‘Concern’ over civilian casualties

Earlier, India’s Permanent Representative said his country “reiterates the UNSC’s deep concern at civilian casualties caused by cross-border violence and strongly condemns air strikes which are flagrant violations of international law, UN Charter and state sovereignty”.

He said it was “hypocritical to espouse high principles of international law and Islamic solidarity while mercilessly carrying out air strikes during the holy month of Ramazan and killing civilians, a majority of whom are women and children”.

India also expressed “grave concern on ‘trade and transit terrorism’”, saying “these vulnerabilities of landlocked developing countries should not be weaponised”.

In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Asim Ahmad said that while India had “always played the role of a spoiler in Afghanistan”, Pakistan had “engaged responsibly in promoting peace, stability and prosperity” in that country.

He added that these goals could only be promoted if “the Taliban regime fulfils its commitments with respect to counter-terrorism, inclusive governance and upholding the rights of Afghan women and girls”.

He urged India to “cease and desist from its policy of stoking terrorism inside Pakistan from Afghan soil, now together with their new-found friends in the Taliban regime”. Pakistan will not allow “their sabotage and subversion from Afghan soil to nourish and harm Pakistan”.

China’s mediation offer

During Monday’s session, China’s permanent representative told the Security Council that his country “has been working to reduce tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan” and is prepared to continue playing a “constructive role” in easing the situation along their border.

Ambassador Fu Cong said Beijing was “deeply concerned and saddened” by the recent escalation, which he noted had caused heavy casualties on both sides.

“The recent escalation of conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan has caused heavy casualties on both sides,” he said, urging the two neighbours to “remain calm and exercise restraint, realise ceasefire as soon as possible and properly resolve the differences through dialogue and negotiations”.

Ambassador Fu said China was in touch with both governments and “actively mediating Pakistan and Afghanistan tensions through its own channels”.

Beijing stood ready to continue facilitating efforts to improve relations, he added.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2026