UN Security Council Condemns Swat Suicide Bombing, Reaffirms Support for Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has strongly condemned the suicide bombing in Swat last week, calling it a “heinous and cowardly” terrorist attack. The condemnation came after Pakistan warned the body that multiple terrorist groups continue to operate from safe havens inside Afghanistan.

In statement Office of the UN secretary general’s spokesperson that the council condemned “in the strongest terms” the “heinous and cowardly” suicide attack outside the police station in Swat’s Kabal on Aug 2.

“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,” it added.

The UNSC 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 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 UNSC resolutions, to cooperate actively with the government of Pakistan in this regard.

The 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 reiterated that terrorism in all its forms remains one of the gravest threats to international peace and security. It called for those responsible, including perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors, to be brought to justice and urged all UN member states to cooperate with Pakistan in accordance with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.

The council also reaffirmed that terrorism is criminal and unjustifiable regardless of its motivation and stressed that counterterrorism efforts must comply with international law.

Pakistan views the attack as part of a broader deterioration in security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which Islamabad attributes largely to the presence of militant sanctuaries across the border in Afghanistan. Pakistani officials maintain that groups including the TTP and Baloch militant organisations continue to use Afghan territory to plan, finance and launch attacks inside Pakistan.

Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to prevent their territory from being used against Pakistan and has raised the issue at international forums, arguing that cross-border militancy has become the principal driver of violence in the country’s western provinces.