Former Afghan President Welcomes Finalised US-Iran Agreement

Dujarric said the United Nations secretary-general had stressed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is unacceptable and called for those responsible for the attack to be identified and brought to justice.

He also reaffirmed the UN’s solidarity with the people and government of Pakistan.

Early on Sunday morning, a suicide bombing involving a vehicle packed with explosives targeted a train carrying soldiers in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, killing at least 24 people and injuring more than 50 others.

The Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to Al Jazeera, several homes and buildings near the railway line were heavily damaged.

Images shared on social media showed burnt-out vehicles and train carriages overturned on their sides, with thick black smoke rising into the sky.

Pakistani media reported that at least three border police officers were among the dead, although most victims were civilians, including passers-by, passengers and residents living near the blast site.

Following the attack, a state of emergency was declared at all major public hospitals in Quetta, and doctors and medical staff were urgently called back to work.

Sarfraz Bugti, Pakistan’s Chief Minister of Balochistan province, condemned the bombing in a post on X, writing: “The terrorists of Fitna Al-Hindustan are proving their savagery by targeting innocent civilians, women, and children.”

The Taliban administration in Afghanistan also condemned the attack.

The vote has been placed on the agenda by Bahrain, the council’s rotating president.

The meeting had been scheduled for last week but was postponed.

The draft resolution has been revised since its initial submission. The earlier version stated that member states would be allowed to use all necessary and appropriate defensive means to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

In the updated version, that language has been removed and replaced with wording that the council strongly encourages coordinated, defensive and proportionate efforts to help ensure maritime security.

The organisation said the sharp rise in militant activity is partly a consequence of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.

The report states that Islamic State remains the world’s deadliest terrorist group, although its geographic reach has shrunk from 22 countries to 15. It also identifies Jama'at Nusrat ul-Islam wal-Muslimin, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and al-Shabaab as among the most dangerous groups.

According to the report, nearly 70% of terrorism-related deaths occurred in just five countries: Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Institute for Economics and Peace said: “For the first time, Pakistan recorded the highest score on the Index and is the country most impacted by terrorism.” It added that the surge in attacks is partly linked to the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan.

The report also highlights that Pakistan’s strained relations with its neighbours, along with increased attacks by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Balochistan Liberation Army, have created serious security challenges.

It added that terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan have reached their highest level since 2013. In 2025, the country recorded 1,139 deaths and 1,045 terrorist incidents.

This marks Pakistan’s deadliest year since 2013. According to the report, Pakistan is the only country where conditions worsened in 2025, with most attacks occurring in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

For the first time since the index was introduced, Afghanistan is not among the 10 countries most affected by terrorism.

However, the report stresses that the decline in terrorist attacks in Afghanistan does not necessarily mean peace or an end to violence. It notes that the index does not account for state repression or violence by state actors, meaning actions by the Taliban administration are not included in the assessment.

The rise in terrorist attacks in Pakistan has also strained its relations with the Taliban. Pakistani officials have repeatedly claimed that insecurity in their country originates from Afghan territory, accusing the Taliban of supporting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Baloch separatists.

In recent months, deadly clashes have taken place between the two sides. The Taliban, however, deny supporting armed groups opposed to Pakistan.

Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, has ordered the full activation of the capital’s Red Zone security area and increased monitoring at checkpoints and entry points to ensure the city’s security.

The decision to reduce the number of entry routes to Islamabad comes amid escalating tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan.

On Friday, the Taliban launched a drone attack near Islamabad. Pakistan said the drones were intercepted but confirmed that four civilians, including two children, were injured when debris fell to the ground.

Islamabad has also witnessed two major suicide bombings in recent months. Last month, an attack at a mosque killed 32 people and injured more than 100 others.

In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu said the conflict may continue for some time but is unlikely to last for years. He added that the war could be swift and decisive.

US President Donald Trump initially said the war might last four to five weeks but later suggested it could continue longer while defending a broader military campaign against Iran.

Netanyahu said the conflict could also create an opportunity for lasting peace in the Middle East, including between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Asked about prospects for regional peace, he said such a path was possible.

He added that the war could create conditions for the Iranian people to change their government. Netanyahu said the ultimate decision rests with the people of Iran, but that Israel and the United States are working to create the circumstances for such a change.