ISLAMABAD:
A recent United Nations report has highlighted the Afghan Taliban’s continued support for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), despite mounting pressure from Islamabad to sever ties. This support has been linked to the surge in TTP-led attacks within Pakistan.
The findings were detailed in the 35th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, submitted to the UN Security Council. The Monitoring Team, composed of independent experts, assists in implementing sanctions against individuals and entities associated with Al Qaeda, Islamic State (Daesh), and their affiliates.
Escalation of Attacks
Covering the period from July 1 to December 13, 2024, the report confirmed that while TTP’s presence in Afghanistan remained unchanged, its attacks on Pakistan had intensified. The group carried out over 600 assaults during this period, many originating from Afghan territory.
Financial and Operational Assistance
The report emphasized that the Afghan Taliban continued to provide TTP with logistical, operational, and financial support, allowing the group to sustain and expand its activities. It was revealed that the family of TTP leader Noor Wali Masoud receives approximately $43,000 monthly from the Afghan Taliban, indicating a substantial level of financial assistance.
TTP has also established new training centers in Afghanistan’s Kunar, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktika provinces. The recruitment drive has reportedly extended to members within the Afghan Taliban’s ranks, reinforcing TTP’s position as the largest terrorist group based in Afghanistan, with an estimated 6,000 to 6,500 fighters.
Pakistan’s Response
To counter the escalating threat, Pakistan has intensified military operations under “Azm-i-Istehkam,” targeting TTP hideouts across the Afghan border, particularly in Paktika and Khost. These measures include cross-border strikes and retaliatory actions.
Pakistan has also engaged in diplomatic efforts, dispatching delegations to Kabul to urge the Afghan Taliban to dismantle TTP sanctuaries. However, Afghan authorities have remained hesitant, suggesting mediation rather than direct action, leading to a diplomatic standoff.
Strengthened Terror Networks
The report further noted that TTP’s operational capabilities had been reinforced through increased collaboration with Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and other militant groups. These groups are reportedly carrying out attacks under the umbrella of “Tehrik-i-Jihad Pakistan (TJP).”
The growing cooperation among these factions, including shared resources and ideological alignment, poses a broader regional security threat. The UN report warned that this evolving alliance could transform TTP into a hub for multiple extremist groups operating across South Asia.
Links with Other Militant Organizations
The proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), specifically its Majeed Brigade, has also been implicated in high-casualty attacks in southwestern Pakistan. The report observed that the Majeed Brigade has established operational connections with TTP, IS-Khorasan (IS-K), and ETIM/TIP, maintaining bases in Afghanistan.
This emerging nexus between the BLA, traditionally an ethno-nationalist organization, and religiously motivated terrorist groups like TTP indicates a convergence of strategic interests, heightening security concerns in the region.
Counter-Terrorism Successes
Pakistan’s security forces have made significant progress in dismantling IS-K’s networks. According to the report, three high-profile IS-K operatives—Adil Panjsheri (an Afghan national), Abu Munzir (a Tajik), and Kaka Younis (an Uzbek)—were arrested. These individuals played key roles in recruitment, funding, and logistical coordination for terrorist activities, including attacks in Kerman and Moscow.
Despite these arrests, Tariq Tajiki, allegedly the mastermind behind the Kerman attack, remains at large in Afghanistan. In response to increasing counter-terrorism pressure, IS-K has shifted from electronic communication to traditional courier networks to avoid detection and minimize further losses.
The UN report underscores the evolving security challenges in the region, attributing TTP’s resilience to continued Taliban support while warning of the broader implications of strengthened alliances among militant groups.
