PESHAWAR: Afghanistan continues to be the greatest terrorist concern for Central and South Asia, with groups like ISIL-K, Al-Qaeda, and Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) enjoying greater freedom of movement in the country since the Taliban lack an efficient security strategy, said United Nations report.
As per report, issued by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team (Al-Qaeda, ISIL) released its 31st report, Afghanistan remains the primary source of terrorist threats in Central and South Asia.
It is the work of organisations such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISIL-K), Al-Qaeda, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the Islamic Jihad Group, Khatiba Imam al-Bukhari, Khatiba al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, Jamaat Ansarullah, and others.
Due to the need for an effective Taliban security strategy, these groups have greater freedom of movement in Afghanistan, according to the report.
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISIL-K), Al Qaeda, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the Islamic Jihad Group, Khatiba Imam al-Bukhari, Khatiba al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, Jamaat Ansarullah, and other groups have greater freedom of movement in Afghanistan as a result of lack of Taliban security strategy, claims the report.
According to the report, ISIL-K “presents itself as the primary rival” to the Taliban de facto administration, focusing strategically on Afghanistan and beyond in the historical Khorasan region.
Its primary goal is to portray the Taliban as incapable of providing national security. ISIL-K aims to sever ties between the Taliban and neighboring countries by targeting diplomatic missions, according to the group.
According to the report, the attack on the Russian Embassy in Kabul last September was the first against a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control; in December, ISIL-K claimed attacks on the Pakistan Embassy and a hotel that housed Chinese nationals.
It also threatened to launch terrorist attacks in Afghanistan on Chinese, Indian and Iranian embassies. In addition to high-profile attacks, ISIL-K conducts low-level attacks nearly every day, causing fear in local communities, targeting Shia minorities to undermine Taliban Pashtun authority, and challenging nascent security agencies, according to the report.
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