The Taliban's relationship with terrorist organisations al-Qaeda and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains "strong and mutually beneficial." This is noted in the report of the UN Security Council Committee's Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Group.
"Under the Taliban's de facto rule, a number of terrorist groups have a great deal of freedom of action. They are deliberately abusing the situation, even as the threat of terrorism grows in Afghanistan and throughout the region," says the report.
According to the assessment, there are indicators that al-Qaida is recovering operational capability, and the group sees Taliban-ruled Afghanistan as a "safe haven."
Simultaneously, the Taliban is attempting to combat ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), who they regard as their "main rival." Based on study, UN Security Council members consider ISIS-K to be "the most significant current terrorist threat in Afghanistan, neighbouring countries, and Central Asia."
Experts estimate that there are between 4,000 and 6,000 ISIS-K fighters in the country, and the group has gained new training sites in the country during the last year. ISIS-K specifically targeted TTP members, Uyghurs, and representatives of ethnic Tajik and Uzbek minority who were disgruntled with the Taliban's worldview, as shown in reports.
A section of the study is also devoted to internal Taliban interactions. The Taliban "returned to the restrictive, pro-Pashtun-oriented autocratic policies" maintained by the Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001, when they first took control in Afghanistan.
Experts say there are "obvious differences" in the Taliban leadership, but the Taliban remain united, and the authority of Haibatullah Akhundzada (the Taliban's theologian and leader since 2016 - ed.) is expanding.
"These divisions occur primarily between pragmatists who seek greater interoperability and flexibility in relations with the international community and arch-conservatives who hold Deobandian theological beliefs that are incompatible with a number of international community values and policies," the report emphasises.
The biggest split in the Taliban leadership is between the factions representing the power centres in Kandahar, where Haibatullah and his tight circle of clerics reside, and Kabul, where the current cabinet of ministers works.
"The ongoing power struggle among various faction leaders is further destabilising the situation, to the point where the risk of armed conflict between rival factions becomes very apparent," explains the report.
At the same time, specialists believe that "Taliban unity will most likely be maintained" in the coming year or two.
On June 11, Daryo mentioned that Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman responded to the publishing of the report and branded it "baseless and biassed." He further said that claims of dissension among Taliban commanders demonstrated "clear hostility" toward Afghans.
Comments (0)