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ISLAMABAD: The United Nations has warned that the presence of a large number of terrorists in Afghanistan, particularly those affiliated with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and ISIL-Khorasan, is posing a serious threat to security of both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The UN's monitoring team's 26th report submitted to Security Council and uploaded on its website on July 23, 2020, 'vindicates Pakistan's stance on terrorism emanating from the Afghan soil, as the presence of a large number of terrorists taking shelter across the border and frequently targeting Pakistani security forces and civilians is a major source of concern for the country', said officials and security analysts.

"The total number of Pakistani foreign terrorist fighters in Afghanistan, posing a threat to both countries, is estimated at between 6,000 and 6,500, most of them with TTP," the UN monitoring team pointed out in its report.

It stated that a large terrorist group present in Afghanistan - TTP - is led by Amir Noor Wali Mehsud, supported by his deputy Qari Amjad and TTP spokesperson Mohammad Khorasani. All the three terrorists have not been listed by the UNSC as yet.

The report mentioned that the TTP has claimed responsibility for various high-profile attacks in Pakistan and has facilitated others by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) and Lahskhar-e-Islam. It stated that many former TTP members have already joined ISIL-K, adding that the Member States expect that the group and its various splinter groups will align themselves with ISIL-K.

It noted that a number of other terrorist groups are active in Afghanistan, most operating under the umbrella of the Taliban but some aligned with ISIL-K.

The monitoring team estimates the current ISIL-K membership in Afghanistan at 2,200 and its leader Sheikh Matiullah Kamahwal (also not listed), previously the head of ISIL-K is in Kunar.

The ISIL-K leadership also includes Syrian national Abu Said Mohammad al-Khorasani and Sheikh Abdul Tahir - both not listed as global terrorists. The Team was informed that two senior ISIL commanders, Abu Qutaibah and Abu Hajar al-Iraqi, had arrived in Afghanistan from the Middle East. Through foreign terrorist fighters, ISIL-K has maintained contact with new overall ISIL leader, al-Mawla, although the ISIL core is no longer assessed to play a key role in the internal decision-making of ISIL-K, it further noted.

The report also pointed out that al-Qaida is covertly active in 12 Afghan provinces and its leader Aiman al-Zawahiri remains based in the country. The monitoring team estimates the total number of al-Qaida fighters in Afghanistan at between 400 and 600 while its leadership maintains close contact with the Haqqani Network.

It further stated that al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) operates under the Taliban umbrella from Nimruz, Helmand and Kandahar provinces of Afghanistan. The group reportedly has between 150 and 200 members from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Pakistan. The current leader of AQIS is Osama Mahmood, who succeeded the late Asim Umar. AQIS is reportedly planning retaliation operations in the region to avenge the death of its former leader, it added.

The monitoring team also pointed out that one member state reported that the ISIL Indian affiliate (Hind Wilayah), which was announced on 10 May 2019, has between 180 and 200 members. According to the report, there are significant numbers of ISIL operatives in Kerala and Karnataka States.

Pakistan's Foreign Office has not yet made a formal comment on the latest report of the UN despite repeated requests. However, government officials in their private conversation with Business Recorder maintained that Pakistan has, on many occasions, raised the issue of presence of a large number of terrorists belonging to the outlawed TTP, JuA and ISIL-K, with Afghan government.

"The latest report by the UN monitoring team is a vindication of Pakistan's stance on the presence of a large number of terrorists on Afghan soil who are frequently targeting our civilians and security forces," the official said, adding Pakistan has not only raised this matter with the Afghan leadership, but also expressed its concerns on many occasions at the international forums and other countries, including United States.

According to Let Gen Talat Masood (retd), a senior defence analyst, the terrorists' presence on each other's soils is one of the major obstacles in improving the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He said that Afghanistan had been accusing Pakistan of sheltering the Taliban and its leadership in the past and Pakistan has now a serious concern over the presence of terrorist groups such as TTP, Daesh, JuA and others inside Afghanistan.

"This has always contributed to the mistrust between the two countries and prevented the two neighbours from improving their bilateral relations," he said, adding that the UN team has rightly pointed out that these terror groups are not only posing a threat to Pakistan, but also to Afghanistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020

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