KABUL — The United Nations has raised concerns over the persistent and evolving threats posed by ISIL and Al-Qaida in Afghanistan and Central Asia, according to the newly released Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, submitted to the Security Council.
The report highlights that ISIL’s Afghan affiliate, Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), remains the most serious terrorist threat in the region. ISKP has continued to carry out high-impact attacks, including targeted assassinations, complex assaults, and cross-border operations.
The group has prioritized attacks on diplomatic missions, Shia minorities—especially Hazaras—journalists, and Taliban security forces. It has also targeted gatherings of religious scholars seen as aligned with the Taliban in a bid to portray the group as apostates.
ISKP’s operational strategy, the report notes, includes urban terror campaigns as well as attempts to expand recruitment through online propaganda in Dari, Pashto, Uzbek, and Russian. The group has maintained an active presence in eastern and northern Afghanistan, particularly in Nangarhar, Kunar, and parts of Badakhshan. In recent months, it has also increased outreach in Central Asian countries through media and claimed attacks.
The Monitoring Team also notes that foreign terrorist fighters continue to operate in Afghanistan, with some returning to Central Asia. The group has shown resilience despite sustained counter-terrorism pressure and maintains links to a broader network of global jihadist actors.
In parallel, Al-Qaida retains a covert presence in Afghanistan, maintaining close ties with the Taliban. The report cites evidence that Al-Qaida has not broken its historic allegiance to the Taliban leadership, contrary to Taliban commitments made under the 2020 Doha Agreement. Al-Qaida has reportedly adapted by embedding within sympathetic Taliban factions, while keeping a low profile to avoid drawing international attention.
The UN experts warn that both groups have used Afghanistan’s fragile security environment to regroup and adapt. ISKP, in particular, has exploited unregulated financial channels to fund operations, including through hawala networks and informal transfer systems. Intelligence from member states indicates that the group also receives support from external financiers linked to global jihadist movements.
The report also draws attention to the risk of radicalization in refugee camps and detention centers across the region, where extremist narratives are taking root among vulnerable populations, especially youth lacking education and economic opportunity.
The Monitoring Team stresses that the situation remains volatile and that the Taliban authorities have shown little capability or willingness to dismantle terrorist safe havens. Despite repeated calls from the international community, there is limited transparency or evidence of effective counter-terrorism action under the Taliban.
UN member states are urged to enhance cooperation, share intelligence, and enforce targeted sanctions. The report also welcomes the inclusion of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) as a listing criterion under the ISIL/Al-Qaida sanctions regime—a move that strengthens accountability for extremist crimes.
The Security Council renewed the Monitoring Team’s mandate through June 2027, giving the group authority to track terrorist activities, monitor enforcement of sanctions, and recommend action against listed individuals and entities.
The report comes amid rising international concerns about Afghanistan’s role as a potential safe haven for transnational terrorist groups, nearly four years after Taliban takeover and subsequent U.S. withdrawal.
