The United Nations Security Council’s Monitoring Committee has unveiled a shocking report, affirming that the revival of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has gained momentum with the return of the Afghan Taliban to power. The report discloses how the TTP is striving to regain control in Pakistan’s former tribal regions.
Presented by the committee on July 25, the report sheds light on how the TTP has reasserted its influence in Afghanistan since August 2021 and how other terrorist organizations are using TTP’s support for their operations within the country.
The report also validates Pakistan’s concerns over the TTP’s cross-border activities. According to the committee, “Member States estimate that the TTP is engaging in increased operational activity in Afghanistan. After uniting with several splinter groups, the TTP aspires to regain control in areas of Pakistan following the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan.”
The UN report highlights that the TTP’s focus was on border regions with high-value targets and soft targets in urban areas. The situation in Afghanistan has further complicated, with fears growing among member countries regarding the emergence of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria-Khorasan Province (ISIL-K) and other foreign terrorist groups, seeking to establish a foothold and bolster their presence in Central Asian nations.
One member country raised concerns over the potential coordination between Al-Qaeda and TTP’s structures. The report mentions Al-Qaeda’s covert operations in Afghanistan, seeking support to prevent the Taliban from using their control for terrorist purposes.
The TTP exploits Afghanistan as a theoretical and logistical hub, intending to empower other non-Afghan regional terrorist groups, including the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), and Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna (JAAS), to strengthen their foothold and build strongholds in Central Asian countries.
One member country assessed that Afghanistan’s overall stability holds the key to long-term TTP capabilities. If Afghanistan descends into chaos and insecurity, the TTP’s foundation will be strengthened. Conversely, if stability is achieved, the TTP may attempt to adapt its strategy.