The 36th Report of the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team presents a thorough overview of the evolving terrorist landscape in South Asia. The primary concern remains the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has not only continued its resurgence in recent years but has also developed ties with other international terrorist groups.

TTP maintains tactical cooperation with ISKP, despite ideological divergence, signalling a convergence of terror networks.

The report analyses TTP’s operational approach and the support it receives from the interim Afghan government (IAG) and other terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda (AQ) and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). Amidst these developments, Pakistan’s proactive counter-terrorism approach stands out as critical in regional security efforts.

The UN report estimates that TTP has approximately 6,000 fighters and remains one of the most threatening groups in the region. More concerning, however, is the strategic space TTP occupies within Afghanistan, where it continues to receive sizeable logistical and operational support from the IAG.

This support, which includes financial aid and territorial access, allows the group to sustain its campaign of violence across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The report further highlights that TTP maintains tactical-level connections with ISKP, which raises alarms about an emerging networked structure of terrorism that transcends ideological divides.

Although ISKP and TTP have differing long-term objectives and ideological bases, operational collaboration in training, recruitment, and weapons acquisition has been noted in recent activities. In addition to its coordination with ISKP, the TTP is reportedly aligned with AQ and its regional affiliate Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

Al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan now serve both AQ and TTP operatives.

The report mentions that AQ-affiliated training camps in Afghanistan serve both AQ and TTP fighters. The fusion of training, ideology, and operational planning among these entities adds a dangerous dimension to the regional terror threat. The appointment of Osama Mahmoud as AQIS emir and the reactivation of dormant Al-Qaeda cells in other conflict zones reflect the ambition of the AQ network to project influence across continents, with TTP playing a key role in their South Asian strategy.

The most alarming aspect of the report is the degree of tolerance that terrorist groups, particularly TTP, enjoy under the IAG. Despite internal differences within the Taliban on supporting TTP, the group continues to operate training camps and enjoys access to advanced weapons in parts of southern Afghanistan.

The UN report states that some Taliban factions even integrate members of TTP into their security apparatus, particularly in law enforcement. This not only undermines regional counterterrorism efforts but also enables a complex web of cross-border militancy that threatens the stability of Pakistan and the region.

Another important observation is the tactical coordination between TTP and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). While the two groups differ ideologically, they have allegedly shared training camps in southern Afghanistan and received ideological support from AQ. Although the relationship is described as distant and largely based on non-aggression, the joint usage of operational resources raises significant security concerns for Pakistan, especially in the country’s western provinces.

In light of these developments, Pakistan has continued to take a leading role in combating terrorism within and beyond its borders. One of the prominent examples of its commitment is the recent handover of a high-profile ISKP terrorist, Sharif Ullah, to the United States. This move, carried out under the framework of United Nations Security Council resolutions, reflects Pakistan’s adherence to international norms and the collaborative approach in global counterterrorism.

Taliban factions are integrating TTP members into their security apparatus, further legitimizing the group.

Furthermore, Pakistan’s military operations across its western frontier and its diplomatic outreach present a strategy aimed not just at neutralizing threats within but also at securing regional consensus on the dangers posed by Afghan-based terrorist elements. Islamabad has repeatedly called for accountability and decisive action against terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan, emphasizing that such havens directly threaten regional peace and violate international obligations.

The report’s findings must serve as a wake-up call for the broader international community. The convergence of TTP, ISKP, AQIS, and other groups in Afghanistan risks transforming that country into a hub for regional destabilization. Left unchecked, this consolidation could enable more frequent and lethal cross-border attacks, deeper radicalization, and a resurgence of global jihadist narratives.

While Pakistan continues to bear the brunt of terrorism, it is not alone in facing its consequences. The risk to Central Asia, the Middle East, and even parts of Europe is significant, particularly as foreign fighters seek relocation in Afghanistan.

The UN report underscores the need for robust international engagement with IAG to ensure compliance with global counterterrorism mandates. It also calls for enhanced regional intelligence sharing, border security cooperation, and economic pressure on actors found supporting the terrorist entities.

The 36th UN Monitoring Team report projects a complex but clear picture: TTP is not operating in isolation but is deeply embedded in a broader, transnational terror ecosystem that includes ISKP, AQ, and various ethnic and sectarian militias. This web is further enabled by tolerance, and in some cases support, from the Afghan interim government.

Pakistan’s transfer of Sharif Ullah to the US underscores its commitment to global counterterrorism norms.

Amid these developments, Pakistan has emerged as a proactive and responsible actor, aligning with global norms and taking difficult but necessary steps to counter terrorism at home and abroad. It is now incumbent upon the international community to recognise the evolving threats, back proactive states like Pakistan, and hold permissive regimes accountable for harbouring forces that endanger global peace.

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.