Reports in international media have surfaced that religious seminaries are growing rapidly under the Afghan Taliban, a worrisome development for counterterrorism experts. In August 2021, approximately 5000 Madressahs were operational in Afghanistan, whereas at present, 21000 seminaries are operational. An estimate suggests that these seminaries enroll around 3.6 million students, who could potentially become terrorist organizations’ foot soldiers.

The number of operational madrassahs in Afghanistan has surged from approximately 5,000 in August 2021 to 21,000 today.

The latest report from the UNSC reveals the growth of Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Fitna-al-Khwarij, and ETIM in Afghanistan, along with the intensification of Jihadi indoctrination of Afghan youth by the Afghan Taliban. It demonstrates that the interim Afghan government continues to violate the Doha agreement. In this regard, multiple reports from the UNSC support Pakistan’s claims that Khwarij, with the support of the Afghan Taliban, is becoming a global terrorist threat. It exposes the Afghan Taliban’s use of lies and deceit to promote terrorism in Pakistan, in violation of international relations norms.

Another UNSC report revealed that the Afghan Taliban are paying ISKP militants to join Khwarij, confirming Pakistan’s claim that Khwarij and ISKP are collaborating on terrorist attacks in the region. The AThe Afghan Taliban has revived ETIM, and both Khwarij and ETIM are closely collaborating within Afghanistan. ost worrisome aspect of the Afghan Taliban is support for the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The Afghan Taliban and Khwarij are aiding the BLA in their extortion activities in Balochistan, while also aiming to undermine China’s interests in Pakistan.

According to UNSC findings, Khwarij could become a global threat while working with Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda is reorganizing and training its militants, and Arab militants are increasingly traveling to Afghanistan. Around 200 Al-Qaeda trainers are working with Khwarij to enhance its terrorist activities in Pakistan. Khwarij chief Noor Wali Mehsud is closely working with Al-Qaeda and ISIS in Afghanistan to further complicate threats for Pakistan.

An estimated 3.6 million students are enrolled in these seminaries, raising fears they could become recruits for terrorist organizations.

Al-Qaeda has operationalized 8 camps in Afghanistan, and its Kunar camp is training suicide bombers for Khwarij. Al-Qaeda has gifted some vehicles to Khwarij to ensure the safety of militant leaders, and its militant commander, Hakeem Al-Masri, is providing full support for Khwarij’s terrorist activities in Pakistan. The collaboration between Khwarij and Al-Qaeda would certainly enhance the global reach of both the terrorist outfits, and the international community needs to check it immediately.

The UN research group’s findings indicate that members of the Afghan Taliban view their participation in the Khwarij attacks as a religious obligation. The Afghan Taliban supplied the group with substantial amounts of leftover American weaponry and manpower to carry out the attacks. Pakistan, facing serious terrorist threats from Khwarij’s safe haven in Afghanistan, has formally informed the UNSC that anti-Pakistan terrorists enjoy freedom of action in Afghanistan. The UN should investigate how Khwarij obtained modern weapons to enhance their lethality in attacks.

The international community is expected to hold the interim Afghan government accountable for violating the Doha agreement by providing protection to global terrorists such as Noor Wali Mehsud. Noor Wali Mehsud is disguising his terrorist outfit and embracing segments of Al-Qaeda and ISIS in response to the new ground realities that have emerged following the US departure from Afghanistan.

Regrettably, the Afghan Taliban have become his accomplices in this regard. He fits the perfect profile of an international terrorist, leading to his blacklisting by the UNSC and his designation as a global terrorist by the US. Now, he has a favorable environment to further his terrorist agenda in Afghanistan, as recent UN reports confirm the thriving Al-Qaeda, ISKP, and Khwarij terrorist training camps in the country.

Reports indicate that the Afghan Taliban are collaborating with groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS to enhance terrorist activities in the region.

Pakistan has informed the UNSC that the resurgence of the Khwarij attacks in Pakistan can be attributed to the actions of the interim Afghan government. It has further warned that Khwarij is an Al-Qaeda-backed terrorist organization, and its unchecked activities in Afghanistan would escalate global terrorist threats as well. In the interest of international peace, the international community should exert pressure on the interim Afghan government to dismantle anti-Pakistan terrorist networks and eliminate global terrorist threats emerging from Afghanistan.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.