"Remarks by Counsellor Muhammad Jawad Ajmal, At the Side Event Convened by SCO-RATS, CIS ATC, UNOCT & UNRCCA during the 2026 Counter Terrorism Week on “Cooperation between the UN, SCO RATS and CIS ATC in addressing security related challenges in Central Asia" *** • Pakistan appreciates the UN, (SCO-RATS), CIS ATC, UNOCT and UNRCCA for organizing this event. • The fact that this event brings together global and regional counter-terrorism stakeholders reflects an important reality: today's security challenges require coordinated responses. • The evolving nature of the terrorist threat underscores the importance of closer cooperation between UN and regional organizations. Effective responses to today's complex security challenges require complementary strengths of both global and regional framework that possess valuable expertise, knowledge and understanding of regional threat dynamics. • We commend SCO-RATS for promoting cooperation among SCO member States and strengthening collective efforts to counter terrorism, separatism, and extremism. • We also recognize the valuable contribution of CIS ATC in facilitating cooperation, information exchange, and capacity-building among its participating States. • There is considerable scope for further strengthening cooperation in areas such as capacity-building, exchange of expertise, strategic assessments, border security, countering terrorist financing, and addressing the misuse of emerging technologies by terrorist groups. • As a close regional partner of Central Asian countries, Pakistan desires to actively contribute to strengthening efforts for furthering our common objectives in a comprehensive and inclusive manner - which is the only viable pathway to sustainable peace and stability in the region. • The evolving terrorist landscape in our region is shaped, to a significant extent, by the continued presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, including TTP, BLA, Al-Qaeda and its Affiliates ETIM, ISKP and other listed entities. Addressing this challenge requires sustained regional cooperation, enhanced information sharing, and a collective commitment to denying terrorist organizations the space to organize, recruit, and operate. • Terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan have acquired increasingly sophisticated capabilities through access to modern military equipment, much of which is believed to have originated from stockpiles abandoned following the collapse of the former Afghan security forces. The proliferation of such weaponry has substantially enhanced the operational effectiveness of these groups. • Historically, Afghanistan has served as a bridge connecting Central and South Asia. Regional connectivity can contribute to regional security and stabilization through shared prosperity. • But this cannot take place in a vacuum and in parallel with Afghanistan being a hot bed for terrorism affecting the entire region adversely. • Eradication of terrorism should remain central to all efforts for regional stability. Afghan soil must not be allowed for use by terrorist groups and proxies against neighboring countries. • Pakistan is committed to advancing the objectives of SCO-RATS through constructive, practical, and results-oriented cooperation and dialogue among member States. • We must strengthen cooperation among the UN, SCO-RATS, and CIS ATC, recognizing that contemporary security challenges demand coordinated responses across global and regional frameworks. • As Chair of SCO-RATS for the 2025–2026 term, Pakistan has sought to further strengthen the Organization's contribution to the collective fight against terrorism, separatism, and extremism—the "three evils." • We believe that stronger cooperation between global and regional mechanisms can generate important synergies and enhance the effectiveness of collective counter-terrorism efforts. • Pakistan remains committed to working with all partners to advance collective approaches to counter-terrorism and to contribute to regional and international peace and security. I thank you. ***********"