Pakistan has urged the international community to take coordinated action to prevent armed groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army’s (BLA) Majeed Brigade and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from acquiring advanced weapons.
Speaking at a United Nations Security Council session in New York, Syed Atif Raza, a counsellor at Pakistan’s UN Mission, warned that billions of dollars’ worth of illicit weapons left behind in Afghanistan were now in the hands of armed groups operating in Pakistan.
“Armed groups are in possession of billions worth of illicit arms abandoned in Afghanistan,” Raza said.
He was addressing an informal “Arria-Formula” meeting of the Security Council, convened by Sierra Leone to discuss the management of small arms and light weapons under UN sanctions regimes.
Raza said the BLA and TTP were using the weapons to carry out attacks inside Pakistan. He also claimed that these groups receive financial and logistical support from Pakistan’s “principal adversary,” referring to India.
“We call upon our international partners to recover the vast stockpile of abandoned weapons, prevent their access to armed groups, and take measures to close this thriving black market of illicit arms,” he said.
He warned that the unchecked flow of small and light weapons continues to fuel conflict, undermine peace and security, and hinder regional development.