ISLAMABAD, Dec 16 (APP): The 16th Report of the UN Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team has presented a stark assessment of Afghanistan’s security situation, directly rejecting the claims of Afghanistan’s interim government that Afghan soil is not being used for terrorism.

The report highlights the continued presence of multiple terrorist groups in Afghanistan, including TTP, ISKP, Al Qaeda, ETIM, and others, warning that Afghanistan has increasingly become a source of regional instability.

It also acknowledges Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts, including arrest of ISKP propagandist Sultan Aziz Azzam, while underlining the serious threat posed by TTP operating from Afghan sanctuaries.

The UN report clearly states that the Taliban’s claim of no terrorist footprint in Afghanistan is “not credible”, exposing gap between Taliban assurances and ground realities.

According to the Monitoring Team, multiple terrorist groups continue to use Afghan territory for planning and coordinating cross-border attacks, posing a direct threat to regional and global security.

The report identifies TTP as the most serious and immediate threat to Pakistan , noting that the group enjoys sanctuaries and support from elements within the Taliban, despite internal divisions on whether TTP has become a liability.

The UN findings reveal that over 600 TTP attacks have taken place in Pakistan in 2025, many launched from Afghan soil, with several attacks involving Afghan nationals as suicide bombers.

The report highlights that border closures triggered by security tensions are costing the Afghan economy nearly $1 million per day, underlining the economic consequences of continued militancy.

The Monitoring Team also warns that Al Qaeda has effectively “blended itself with TTP”, with or without Taliban acquiescence, benefiting from a permissive environment inside Afghanistan.

At the same time, the UN report acknowledges Pakistan’s counter-terrorism progress, citing the arrest of ISKP spokesperson and propagandist Sultan Aziz Azzam on 16 May 2025 as a significant development.

The report further notes that Pakistan’s actions, alongside international cooperation, have degraded ISKP’s operational and media capabilities, reinforcing Pakistan’s role as a key contributor to global counter-terrorism efforts.