Taliban support fuels deadlier TTP attacks in Pakistan: UN

UN report links Taliban support to deadlier TTP attacks

A UN Security Council-mandated monitoring report has found that the Afghan Taliban's continued support for the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has contributed to a rise in the frequency and lethality of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, according to Dawn. The report, covering December 16, 2025, to June 9, 2026, also points to growing operational and facilitation linkages among the TTP, Al Qaeda, Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIL-K), and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

The report noted that the Taliban's support for the TTP has escalated attacks against Pakistan, with member states expressing concern that the continuing conflict could create opportunities for terrorist groups and generate additional security challenges for the region.

Taliban's dual-track approach

Despite the overall assessment, the report recorded some initial steps by the Taliban authorities to contain the TTP, though these appeared aimed more at managing the group than dismantling its infrastructure. According to the report, Afghan authorities had relocated around 2,000 TTP fighters and their families from areas along the Pakistani border to deeper inside Afghanistan. Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had also reportedly warned the TTP leadership through backchannel communications to halt attacks against Pakistan or risk losing support.

However, the TTP has continued its activities. The group announced a revised structure with two new divisions covering Balochistan and the central region, and Kashmir and Gilgit, following its annual rahbari shura in December. This restructuring included a new division described as the 'TTP Air Force'. In March, the TTP announced its spring campaign 'Operation Khyber' in several languages, calling for increased attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians.

Escalating violence

The report comes amid a spate of high-profile attacks in Pakistan. On February 16, a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in Bajaur killed 11 security personnel and a child, an attack the TTP claimed responsibility for and was reportedly operating from Afghanistan. In a separate incident, Al Qaeda's media outlet As-Sahab Media Foundation issued a statement on April 28 supporting the Taliban and, for the first time, backing the TTP in its operations against Pakistan.

The report also noted that ISIL-K attacks declined in Afghanistan but increased in Pakistan. On February 6, a suicide bomber detonated explosives during Friday prayers at the Khadija Tul Kubra Mosque in Islamabad, killing 32 people and injuring more than 150. The attack was claimed by a group calling itself ISIL in Pakistan but was likely conducted by ISIL-K, according to the report. ISIL-K also claimed responsibility for the May 5 assassination of Pakistani cleric Sheikh Muhammad Idrees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Diplomatic tensions and regional concerns

The issue has also been raised at the United Nations. Pakistan raised the issue at the UN Security Council, with the country's permanent representative highlighting the 'increasingly permissive environment' for terrorist groups in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. China's representative at the same forum echoed these concerns, urging the Taliban to take action, while supporting Pakistan's counterterrorism efforts. The Chinese diplomat also called for sanctions on the BLA and Majeed Brigade, as reported by Dawn.

Meanwhile, Dawn reported in an editorial that the Taliban only pay lip service to these concerns, denying the fact that terrorists operate from their territory. The newspaper argued that these denials are implausible, given the convincing body of evidence proving that violent outfits operate in an agreeable atmosphere in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

The escalating violence has also taken a toll on the region, with the report noting that cross-border attacks between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated, provoked by a high number of attacks by the TTP against Pakistan. The economic situation in Afghanistan remains dire, adding another layer of complexity to the security challenges facing the region.

Perspectives

Taliban's stance

In an exclusive interview with Republic TV, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid urged Pakistan to pursue dialogue, reiterating that the use of pressure, propaganda, and aggression cannot resolve any problem. He rejected Pakistan's allegations as incorrect, stating, "As we stated earlier, we do not allow anyone to use Afghan territory against any other country. The TTP is a longstanding problem of Pakistan and has nothing to do with Afghanistan. Pakistan should confront them and prevent their activities within its own territory. Once again, we assure everyone that we do not allow the TTP to use Afghan territory. However, if Pakistan has evidence, it should share it with us."

Mujahid said the message had been conveyed to Pakistani military and civilian officials through various channels, and reiterated that the problem should be resolved through dialogue and goodwill. He also assured India that Afghan territory will not be used for attacks against India, speaking at a Taliban victory day celebration at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi. New Delhi does not formally recognize the Taliban regime but allows Taliban-appointed diplomats to manage the Afghan embassy and consulates in India.