United Nations, January 21, 2025: Pakistan has said that the global terrorism landscape has evolved dramatically with the terrorism epicenter having shifted from the Middle East to the Central Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa, which now accounts for more than 50% of all deaths from terrorism globally per the Global Terrorism Index 2024. In a statement during the UNSC High-Level Open Debate on “Counter Terrorism in Africa, Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, said that terrorist groups are operating with increasing impunity in ungoverned spaces, including in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, Cabo Delgado and with Burkina Faso and Mali among the three most affected countries. He said that while Al-Qaida “Core” was decimated in Afghanistan, largely due to Pakistan’s efforts, several of Al-Qaeda’s subsidiaries have emerged elsewhere, including in North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. He said that Daesh was decimated in Syria and Iraq, but its franchises have emerged in Afghanistan and the Sahel. Ambassador Akram emphasized Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to countering terrorism and said that “For the past four decades, Pakistan has been at the forefront of the fight against global terrorism,” he said. “We have paid a heavy price, with over 80,000 casualties and enormous damage to our economy.” He highlighted Pakistan’s success in suppressing Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups and reiterated its resolve to eliminate groups like the TTP and Daesh operating from safe havens across borders. Ambassador Akram outlined key measures necessary for addressing terrorism in Africa as part of a comprehensive global strategy. He advocated for a regional approach to establish effective security frameworks and called for expedited implementation of Resolution 2719 to support AU Peace Operations. He highlighted the necessity of equipping and training AU-led missions, emphasizing the critical role of UN assistance and encouraged collaboration between the AU, League of Arab States, and OIC, endorsing regional initiatives like the Nouakchott Process and Accra Initiative. Pakistan urged a review of UN sanction regimes to ensure they address African nations’ challenges without hindering development. The Pakistan UN envoy stressed countering terrorist use of cyber tools like the dark web and cryptocurrencies for recruitment and financing. He said it was important to address the root causes of terrorism such as poverty, governance issues, and economic challenges while promoting sustainable development through Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063. Ambassador Akram reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Africa’s stabilization efforts, recalling the country’s contributions to peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Mali, Sudan, and South Sudan since the 1960s. “Pakistan stands ready to share its counter-terrorism expertise with African partners and assist in establishing institutional structures and capacity building for sustainable peace,” he stated.