Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmad has said terrorism has been at the core of Afghanistan’s problems.

Speaking at the UN Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan, he highlighted the nexus between the Taliban and terrorist groups. He said over the last three years alone, over 4,700 innocent Pakistanis have lost their lives to terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.

The Ambassador said Pakistan cannot sit idle in the face of this terrorist onslaught. He said Pakistan will respond in self-defense, as and when needed and in accordance with international law. He said we will defend ourselves against whosoever attempts to harm our citizens and our national security.