NEW YORK: Pakistan has urged the United Nations to take swift action against the spread of illicit arms falling into the hands of terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan. The call was made following a surge in cross-border attacks targeting Pakistani civilians and security personnel.
Speaking at the “UNSC Arria-Formula Meeting on Small Arms and Light Weapons Management in UN Sanctions Regimes,” Syed Atif Raza, Counsellor at Pakistan’s UN Mission, warned of the threat posed by illegal weapons. He pointed out that groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and Majeed Brigade are now armed with advanced unauthorized arms.
“These terrorist groups are now in possession of weapons worth billions,” Raza said. “These illicit arms, left behind in Afghanistan, are being used to carry out deadly attacks in Pakistan.” His remarks came in the context of increasing terrorist violence along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
A recent report by the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey backs these claims. Titled “Documenting Arms Availability in Afghanistan,” the study outlines the thriving black market of smuggled weapons in the region. It notes that both Soviet-era and NATO-origin firearms remain accessible in informal markets despite Taliban efforts to control distribution.
The report warns that many of these unregulated arms are ending up in the hands of non-state actors. These include the TTP and al-Qaeda. The continued flow of such weapons poses a serious risk to regional peace and security.
Adding weight to the urgency, the Global Terrorism Index 2025 has ranked Pakistan as the second-most terrorism-affected country in 2024. The report noted a staggering 45% increase in deaths caused by terrorism. TTP alone was responsible for 52% of those fatalities.
The security situation has worsened since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistan has faced a steady rise in attacks on law enforcement and military forces, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
In January 2025, terrorist incidents jumped by 42% compared to December 2024, as reported by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). This sharp rise further highlights the deadly impact of illicit arms falling into terrorist hands.
Counsellor Raza stressed that black market firearms have become the preferred tool for both state and non-state actors to create instability. These weapons, he said, are used to fuel conflict, aid terrorism, and strengthen organized crime networks.
“Pakistan is deeply concerned over the use of modern and advanced illegal weapons by the TTP, BLA, and Majeed Brigade,” he stated. He also pointed out that the TTP, a group listed by the United Nations as a terrorist entity, continues to operate freely from Afghan territory.
Raza called on the global community to recover the massive stockpile of weapons left in Afghanistan. “Steps must be taken to stop terrorist groups from accessing these arms and to shut down this growing black market,” he concluded.
