A new United Nations assessment this week validated long-standing Pakistani concerns over cross-border terrorism, revealing that the Afghan Taliban-backed TTP has significantly escalated its attacks against Pakistan—provoking military retaliation and deepening regional instability.
The report, the 38th from the UN monitoring team submitted to the Security Council, paints a sobering picture of Afghanistan as a persistent launchpad for militant activity.
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has long been accused of operating from Afghanistan against Pakistan with the support of Afghan Taliban authorities.
The report notes a marked escalation in TTP attacks on Pakistani soil, contributing to heightened military tensions along the border.
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According to the document, “the terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan remained largely unchanged,” with clear references to the Taliban’s tacit backing of the TTP.
Diplomatic sources in New York have pointed out that this assessment aligns with earlier UN monitoring reports on regional terrorist networks.
Regional Instability and Terrorist Capabilities
The report warns that ongoing conflict dynamics may create new opportunities for extremist groups, posing additional security risks for the broader region. “The ability of numerous terrorist groups to operate in Afghanistan constituted an enduring threat to neighboring countries and Central Asia,” it states.
Despite the Taliban’s stated efforts to counter Islamic State–Khorasan (ISIL-K) and restrain other militant factions, the UN report concludes that the authorities have been unable to effectively contain the terrorist landscape. ISIL-K, in particular, has emerged as a formidable force, equipped with modern tactical gear—including drones, night-vision devices, and thermal imagers—and receiving specialized training in urban warfare.
One member state further reported that ISIL-K and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) now share logistical support networks.
Afghan Taliban Fire on Pakistan, Sparking Cross-Border Clash
TTP Restructures and Expands Operations
On December 25, following its annual leadership council, the TTP announced a revised operational structure, introducing two new divisions focused on Balochistan and the central region, as well as Kashmir and Gilgit. Notably, the group also unveiled a so-called “TTP Air Force,” signaling an expanded tactical ambition.
The report confirms that the TTP has “continued to escalate attacks inside Pakistan.”
In early March, the group launched its spring offensive, dubbed “Operation Khyber,” issuing multilingual calls for intensified strikes against both Pakistani security forces and civilians.
Taliban Efforts to Rein In TTP—and Mixed Signals
In response to mounting pressure, the Afghan Taliban reportedly relocated roughly 2,000 TTP fighters and their families from the border area to locations deeper inside Afghanistan, in an apparent bid to reduce cross-border friction. The Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, is said to have issued back-channel warnings to TTP leadership, cautioning that continued attacks on Pakistan could result in the loss of Taliban support.
However, the report also notes that Al-Qaeda’s presence in Afghanistan remains robust. Its official media outlet, As-Sahab, issued a statement not only backing the Taliban but also—for the first time—openly endorsing TTP operations against Pakistan.
While Al-Qaeda has long provided ideological and training support to the TTP, this public endorsement marks a more direct alignment. One member state reported that BLA militants have received joint training with TTP fighters from Al-Qaeda instructors inside Afghanistan.
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Implications for Pakistan and the International Community
The UN Monitoring Team’s latest observations reaffirm Pakistan’s longstanding concerns over externally facilitated terrorism. The report provides fresh evidence of cross-border attacks originating from Afghan soil and reinforces Islamabad’s appeals for greater international attention and action.
Islamabad is expected to leverage this report to renew its calls on the global community to curb external financing and support for terrorist outfits operating from Afghanistan, and to take stronger measures to prevent further threats to Pakistan’s national security.
Iftikhar Ali is a veteran Pakistani journalist, former president of UN Correspondents Association, and a recipient of the Pride of Performance civil award
