New york: Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmad has said Afghanistan is a sanctuary for terrorist groups and proxies.He was speaking at the meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan.The Ambassador said terrorism emanating from Afghan soil poses a grave threat not only to its immediate neighbors, but also to the broader region and beyond, undermining regional and international peace and security.The Ambassador warned that the spillover effects of the terrorism nurturing in Afghanistan will not remain confined to Pakistan.He said Pakistan will not sit idle while suffering from terrorist acts from across the Afghan border, that target our border posts, law enforcement agencies and civilian infrastructure, including public spaces of worship and schools. He said we have confiscated large caches of sophisticated military grade modern equipment left behind by foreign forces in Afghanistan during our counter terrorism operations.Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said Pakistan will take all necessary defensive measures for the protection of its citizens, territory and sovereignty. He said our counter terrorism operations will continue for as long as it takes to degrade the combat capabilities of terrorist groups and support infrastructure.Responding to the remarks of representatives of Afghanistan and India, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said Pakistan's legitimate counter-terrorism operations are not directed against the brotherly people of Afghanistan, and are only meant to neutralize the persistent threat of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil. He said our actions are in full conformity with the right to self-defense and international humanitarian law.Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said India has always played the role of a spoiler in Afghanistan. He said India must desist from its policy of stoking terrorism inside Pakistan from Afghan soil. He said India has long played this dangerous game, we will not allow their sabotage and subversion from Afghan soil to nourish and harm Pakistan.