In its latest report United Nations Organization has revealed new and dangerous facts about terrorism in Pakistan. These ground realities of terrorism in Pakistan were published in 35th report of the Analytical Sup-port and Sanctions Monitoring Team which was submitted to the UN Security Council.
The report clearly reveals that, the Interim Afghan Taliban Government is continuously supporting the terrorist activities of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from four aspects: a) provision of hideouts and training of the group on Afghan soil, b) provision of weapons and equipment for launching terrorism in Pakistan, c) provision of finances to TTP for all its terrorist activities and d) provision of logistic support to TTP from Afghan soil till entrance on Pakistani soil through active and operational support Afghan Taliban Malatia.
The report underscored that the Taliban continued to provide the outlawed TTP with logistical and opera-tional space and financial support, bolstering the group’s capacity to sustain its activities. The significant aspect of the report is that, the more Pakistani Government emphasizes Afghan Taliban Government for the stoppage of backing TTP, the more they support the terrorist activities of the banned outfit, in a way further fuel the terrorist attacks in Pakistan. The 35th report covers the period from July 1 to Dec 13, 2024, and states that there is increase in the terrorism of TTP in Pakistan alongside many other terrorists’ outfits.
The report states that, “status and strength of TTP in Afghanistan had not changed,” revealing that, TTP has in-tensified its terrorist attacks in Pakistan to manifold; conducted over 600 attacks from July 2024 to Decem-ber 2024. There have reports in the past years that, Afghan Taliban Government has established new training camps for the training of TTP terrorists in major towns and provinces adjoining Pakistan. This UN report has authenticated the news and reveals that, Afghan Taliban Government has “established new training centers in Kunar, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktika (Barmal) provinces”. Apart from over 6500 TTP terrorists, new terrorists’ recruitment has been added in the ranks of this out-lawed organization. The new recruitment in TTP also include young Afghan nationals (Afghan terrorists) from various parts Afghanistan. In the recent terrorist attacks of TTP many Afghan nationals were also found involved while fighting alongside TTP.
Pakistan has been voicing against involvement of Afghan nationals in the terrorism in Pakistan. On 6 February 2025, an Afghan national involved in terrorism inside Pakistan was killed during an opera-tion conducted by the security forces in general area DattaKhel of North Waziristan.” He was identified as Luqman Khan aliasNusrat (Afghan national), son of Kamal Khan, resident of Spera District, Khost Province, Afghanistan. These proves further authenticate UN Reports and previous estimates of the nature and quan-tum of terrorism in Pakistan from across the Pakistan borders. Indeed, “The ambition and scale of its (TTP) attacks on Pakistan… had significantly increased” a very alarming revelation of the UN Report. It is only because of the dedicated unabated support of the Afghan Taliban Government, which strongly stands behind TTP and all terrorist organizations. The UN report corroborates these developments, highlighting that the “Taliban’s support has enabled TTP to escalate its offensive strategy against Pakistan”.
It is very surprising to note that; banned TTP leader Noor WaliMasoud gets $43,000 per month from the Interim Afghan Taliban Government, as revealed in the abovementioned UNSC report. This is huge money, spent on terrorism against Pakistan, warranting a detail investigation. Indeed, Taliban Government cannot afford to provide this huge amount at its own. Besides, there are many other terrorist groups, operating in Pakistan whose funding is being done by Afghan Taliban Government since 2021. As detailed investigation of this funding reveals that, there are regional and global forces that provide funds to Interim Afghan Taliban Government for their logistic and operational activities of all terrorist outfits to terrorize Pakistani state and society. These forces have been providing funds to Hamid Karazai and Asharf Ghani governments through NDS for terrorist activities in Pakistan. Indeed, all terrorists organization operating in Pakistan are foreign funded and foreign sponsored with a motive to destabilize Pakistan at; political, social and economic levels.
The revelations made in the report of Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team established by the UN Security Council is quite alarming and dangerous for the state and society of Pakistan. There are confirm news that, there is a between Afghan Taliban Government, TTP and Al Qaeda. Besides some other terrorist groups are operating with the name of Tehrik-i-Jihad Pakistan (TJP)”. Enhanced cooperation among various terrorist groups could transform TTP into an “extra-regional threat” not only for Pakistan but for neighbouring states of Afghanistan. This is very unfortunate that, Afghan Taliban Government rather stop-ping the logistic support of TTP, asking Pakistan to mediate with them. The intensity of terrorist attacks of TTP and other terrorists’ organizations, being sponsored by Interim Afghan Taliban Government are eye-opener for Pakistan. While the physical combating is already underway by the security forces of Pakistan, there has to be political and diplomatic efforts made by Government through various political, social and diplomatic channels for pursuing Interim Afghan Government for ceas-ing the support of TTP and other terrorist outfits. Besides, regional states, bordering Afghanistan must be approached to formulate a joint strategy to end the sponsorship of terrorism by Afghan Government and its regional and global supporters.
The writer is a Professor of Politics and IR at the International Islamic University.
Islamabad. (drmkedu@gmail.com)
