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

In a press statement issued by the Office of the UN secretary general’s spokesperson, the council said it 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.

Earlier this week, Pakistan told a UNSC meeting that several terrorist organisations continue to operate from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan, posing an increasing threat to regional and international security.

Addressing a briefing on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorism, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, said the country continued to face a grave terrorist threat emanating from across its western border.

He identified the banned TTP, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade, the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) and its affiliates, the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), and Al Qaeda affiliates as groups that, according to Pakistan, maintain safe havens inside Afghanistan.

Pakistan urged the international community to ensure that Afghan territory is not used by terrorist organisations to launch attacks against neighbouring countries and called for stronger international cooperation against cross-border terrorism.

The developments also followed the fourth US-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue held in Washington on Tuesday, where officials from both countries reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorist organisations.