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According to a UN report, organizations linked to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, like Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, were transferring NATO-caliber weapons to ISIL-K, and member states expressed concern over the spread of military hardware throughout Afghanistan and into neighboring countries after the Taliban takeover in 2021.
The proliferation of weapons in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa continues to worry UN member states, particularly Da’esh and its local affiliates’ access to small arms and light weapons, as well as their increased use of unmanned aircraft systems and improvised explosive devices, according to the 17th report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peace and security.
The study released earlier this week stated that “with the Taliban taking control of Afghanistan, member states expressed concern over the proliferation of large quantities of weapons and other military equipment within Afghanistan and into neighboring states.”
“North Atlantic Treaty Organization-caliber weapons typically associated with the former Afghan National Defense and Security Forces were being transferred to ISIL-K by groups affiliated with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, such as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement,” also known as the Turkistan Islamic Party (ETIM/TIP), according to regional member states.
According to reports, Da’esh has switched to making fewer, simpler, and smaller improvised explosive devices in the main area of fighting and now only uses suicide vests as a last resort to prevent the loss of operatives.
“There are reports that Da’esh has created a so-called Industry Committee within its structures to explore new avenues for advancement in weaponry, such as improvised explosive devices and increased payloads for drones,” the report said.
The report added that member states assessed ISIL-K as being the most serious terrorist threat in Afghanistan and the wider region.
The group has reportedly increased its operational capabilities inside Afghanistan, with fighters and family members estimated at 4,000 to 6,000 individuals. Sanaullah Ghafari (alias Shahab al-Muhajir) is viewed by some member states as the most ambitious leader of ISIL-K. One Member State reported that Ghafari was killed in Afghanistan in June.
“That remains to be confirmed,” the report said, adding that Mawlawi Rajab is the leader of external operations for ISIL-K.
It said ISIL-K is becoming “more sophisticated” in its attacks against both the Taliban and international targets. The group was reportedly focused on a strategy of carrying out high-profile attacks to undermine the Taliban’s ability to provide security. “Overall, ISIL-K attacks demonstrated strong operational capability involving reconnoiter, coordination, communication, planning, and execution,” the report said, adding that according to some Member States, attacks against high-profile Taliban figures in Balkh, Badakhshan, and Baghlan Provinces raised ISIL-K morale and boosted recruitment.
“Some Member States reported that ETIM/TIP had developed links in Afghanistan with ISIL-K, with the two groups jointly publishing propaganda posters and some ETIM/TIP members joining ISIL-K operations. One member state assessed that some elements of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent were ready to either join or collaborate with ISIL-K,” the report said.
By Resolutions 1526 (2004) and 2253 (2015) regarding ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, the Taliban, and related individuals and entities, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, and the Office of Counter-Terrorism prepared the report in close coordination with other United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities.
In particular, it focused on conflict zones and bordering regions where the threat posed by Da’esh remained high during the reporting period. It also observed that United Nations agencies continued to help and collaborate with Member States in their efforts to prevent and counter-terrorism.
Based on the recommendations in the Delhi Declaration on preventing the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, which the Counter-Terrorism Committee adopted during its special meeting held in New Delhi in October 2022, and on behalf of the Security Council Committee established by resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counterterrorism.
The Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), which will be led by India in 2022, organized a special meeting on the subject of “Countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes” on October 28 and 29, 2017 in New Delhi and Mumbai.
The ‘Delhi Declaration’, a “pioneer document” on combating the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist goals, was endorsed by the Committee as a result of the special conference.
Source- NDTV
