Terror groups enjoy greater freedom in Afghanistan than at any time in recent history: UNSG report

There are no recent signs that the Taliban, which seized power in Afghanistan in 2021, has taken steps to limit the activities of foreign terrorist fighters in the war-torn country, according to a report by United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres.

There are no recent signs that the Taliban, which seized power in Afghanistan in 2021, has taken steps to limit the activities of foreign terrorist fighters in the war-torn country, according to a report by United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres.

The report also voiced member nations' concern that terrorist groups enjoy "greater freedom” in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan than at any time in recent history, especially noting the spike in the strength of the dreaded ISIL-K terror group which has nearly doubled from earlier estimates of 2,200 fighters following the release of several thousand individuals from prison.

“The security landscape in Afghanistan changed dramatically on August 15, following a Taliban military campaign that seized 33 of 34 provincial capitals, including Kabul,” according to the '14th report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat'.

The report said that there are no recent signs that the Taliban has taken steps to limit the activities of foreign terrorist fighters in the country. “On the contrary, Member States are concerned that terrorist groups enjoy greater freedom in Afghanistan than at any time in recent history,” it said.

Member States assess that the strength of the Da’esh affiliate in Afghanistan — Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISIL-K) — has increased from earlier estimates of 2,200 fighters to now approaching 4,000 following the release by the Taliban of several thousand individuals from prison.

According to the Secretary General’s report, one Member State assessed that up to half the individuals are foreign terrorist fighters. While Da’esh controls limited territory in eastern Afghanistan, it is capable of conducting high-profile, complex attacks such as the August 27, 2021 bombing at Kabul airport, which killed over 180 people, and several subsequent attacks, in particular against the Taliban and members of the Shia community.

The report further said that Da’esh in Afghanistan continues to be led by Sanaullah Ghafari, an Afghan national. The group is taking advantage of the turmoil in the country, including by recruiting fighters from the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement and the Turkistan Islamic Party, among other foreign terrorist groups.