Vladimir Voronkov, the head of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office, has presented the UN Secretary-General’s latest report on the threats posed by the Islamic State (ISIS) in Africa and Afghanistan to a UN session.
He stated, ‘The situation in Afghanistan has become increasingly complex, and concerns about the falling of weapons and ammunition into the hands of terrorists are growing,’ and ‘The operational capabilities of ISIS’s Khorasan branch within the country have consistently increased, making their attacks against the Taliban and international targets more intricate.’
Furthermore, the presence and activities of ‘about 20 different terrorist groups’ in Afghanistan, coupled with the Taliban’s suppressive actions, have made the situation in the region intricate.
According to assessments from the past year, ISIS attacks in Afghanistan have decreased, even though the group managed to assassinate several high-ranking Taliban officials.
Mr. Voronkov emphasised that combating and preventing terrorism requires long-term commitment and coordinated efforts from countries.
This comes at a time when the Taliban consistently announce the absence of terrorist groups, including ISIS, in Afghanistan. However, TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan) is moving purposefully in the northern regions of Afghanistan, and ISIS also maintains an active presence in the northern provinces.”