UNSC Report on Terrorist Groups

Yet again, the latest report by the United Nations Sanctions Monitoring Team has proved the
presence, safe havens and growing nexus between the terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan.
This only reinforces Pakistan’s already existing fears about it being used as a base by terrorist
elements of the Afghan Interim Government (IAG). It categorically avers that the IAG is
cooperating with various terrorist organizations that include Tehreek e Talaban Pakistan (TTP),
Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), Al Qaida (AQ), East Turkestan Islamic Movement
(ETIM), and Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) who have all flourished in Afghanistan.
One finding in particular in the report is the involvement of the ISKP in planning and attacking
outside Afghanistan’s borders. According to the report, Pakistani intelligence has arrested top
ISKP officials including those involved in the Kerman suicide bombing in Iran and the Crocus
City Hall attack in Moscow. They included an Afghan national, Adil Panjsheri, a Tajikistani man
named Abu Munzir and another Uzbekistan national by the name of Kaka Younis. However,
they were important figures in ISKP’s external operations, leading recruitment, travel, and

financial transactions of fighters and suicide bombers. Tariq Tajiki was the mastermind behind
the Kerman attack, and he stayed in Afghanistan conducting in person meetings through the
network of couriers and while instructions were instructed by them. This marks ISKP’s growing
reach and its growing threat to international security.
The report also details how much TTP has been emboldened by its deepening ties with the
Taliban and how it has bounced back. The scope of operational autonomy afforded to TTP has
meant that attacks by this group have greatly increased. TTP enjoys a warm relationship with the
Taliban that politically allowed Al-Qaeda core members and AQIS fighters to support TTP for
cross-border attacks in Pakistan, and carries weapons and equipment provided by the Taliban to
support TTP attacks. This information corroborates the Pakistan’s repeated claims of the
presence of TTP safe havens in Afghanistan and his operational links with International Terrorist
Organizations (ITOs). It explains that the Afghan Interim Government allows these groups to
carry out the attacks in Pakistan.
The most damaging revelation in the report is the fact that money is being given to TTP
leadership. The statement confirms that the Afghan Taliban leadership pays $43,000 per month
to the family of Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, the TTP chief. The Taliban also continue to give
logistical, operational and financial help to TTP. Moreover, the extension of TTP’s infrastructure
in Afghanistan is evidenced by the opening of new training centres in Kunar, Nangarhar, Khost
and Paktika (Barmal) provinces. The report goes on to say that there has been an alarming
increase of TTP recruitment, including from within Afghan Taliban ranks, which makes the
security landscape in the region even more complex and confusing.
The report also details the operational linkages between the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), its
Majeed brigade particularly in relation to terrorist organizations like TTP, ISKP and TIP. These
show that there have been shared efforts among several of these groups to destabilize Pakistan
and the wider region. But it is especially unwelcome since Al-Qaeda is in close alliance with the
Taliban. But while the report partly buys into the latter’s assurances to the international
community, it confirms that Al-Qaeda is still entrenched in Afghanistan with the patronage of
the Taliban.
Pakistan has consistently raised these concerns on the international terrains and underlined the
importance of taking action against these terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Yet, the Afghan
Interim Government has continuously denied these allegations, dismissing such allegations as

groundless accusations. However, the UN report offers incontrovertible proof that terrorist
groups are present in Afghanistan and are even sponsored by its ruling authorities.
This unchecked terrorism obviously doesn’t only affect Pakistan but much wider. These terrorist
groups are a serious threat to making regional and global security, as shown by the fact that ISKP
has conducted external operations against Iran and Russia. Their influence will only keep
growing if left unchecked, and consequently they could become even more devastating in or
active around various parts of the world.
Terrorist attacks carried out by such groups from Afghan soil have plagued Pakistan sorely.
Together, the persistent cross border incursions by TTP, ISKP involvement in international
terrorism, and Taliban continued patronage of Al-Qaeda show under what grave threat
Afghanistan based militant networks represent internationally. For the sake of the international
community, Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Interim Government will need to realize that harboring
and enabling these organizations is going to have very damaging repercussions for the United
States’ international reputation, as it will be seen by the world at large as harboring and enabling
terrorism.
The global community, therefore, must take decisive action to force the Afghan Interim
Government to dismantle these terrorist networks. So that international terrorism has no
permanent safe haven in Afghanistan, diplomatic pressure, economic sanctions and strategic
counterterrorism measures must be used. The time has come for the IAG to take its responsibility
very seriously if it had to act in true letter and spirit and if it had to do something to curb these
threats and display its commitment to regional and global peace. Consequently, failure to do so
will only embolden these terrorist groups, adding to the instability and increasing the violence
over the borders.