RASC News Agency: A recent United Nations report highlights the international community’s dilemma in dealing with Afghanistan under Taliban rule. The report acknowledges the Taliban’s role in stabilizing the country post-decades of conflict, reducing petty corruption, and curbing poppy cultivation. However, it also underscores the flourishing terrorist groups on Afghanistan soil, notably the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), which poses threats beyond Afghanistan’s borders.
The report indicates that IS-K has between 2,000 to 6,000 fighters and is actively recruiting from other militant groups. Additionally, the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has emerged as Afghanistan’s largest terrorist group, with a significant working relationship with Al Qaeda. Last year alone, the TTP launched over 1,200 attacks against Pakistan. Other groups, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and IS-K, threaten regional stability, impacting countries such as China, Iran, and the Central Asian states.
While the Taliban’s gains have prevented mass opposition within Afghanistan, the report stresses that the Taliban must enhance their counterterrorism efforts, particularly against both supportive and opposing militants. International recognition and trade relations hinge on these efforts, with global and regional powers needing to adopt a coordinated response to this multifaceted threat.
The UN report on Afghanistan reveals a complex situation where the Taliban have brought some stability but have also allowed terrorist groups to thrive. The report calls for a stronger international response, especially from Afghanistan’s neighbors, to address the growing threat of militancy in the region. The Taliban’s recognition and trade relations are dependent on their actions against both allied and adversarial militants.
