UN concerned over terror groups in Afghanistan

UNITED NATIONS:

ISIL or Da'esh and its terrorist affiliates have expanded their activities and finances in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq as well as in several parts of Africa, resulting in a major spike in attacks and civilian fatalities, a senior UN counter-terrorism official has warned the Security Council.

Vladimir Voronkov, head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), also highlighted the danger posed by ISIL-Khorasan, the Da'esh affiliate in Afghanistan, resulting in heightened threat levels in Europe.

"The activity of Da'esh and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan remains a significant concern," he told the 25-member Council.

"We must unite to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a hotbed of terrorism," he added.

A United Nations (UN) report cited the attack by the group on the Crocus City Hall near Moscow that killed over 140 concert goers and wounded more than 500. ISIL-K also increased propaganda "possibly inspiring" actors to attack "soft" targets, raising concerns at high-visibility sporting events, the report said.

"The group is considered the greatest external terrorist threat to the continent," Voronkov said.

He underscored that terrorism continues to remain a significant challenge for the international community, one that no state can tackle alone.

"To eradicate the terrorist threat, we need inclusive, multilateral responses that are firmly grounded on political strategies, compliant with international law and informed by all-of-society and all-of-government approaches," he stressed. The terrorism landscape in West Africa and the Sahel remains challenging and complex, with Da'esh-affiliated groups expanding their areas of operation in the region and demonstrating resilience and adaptability despite sustained counter-terrorism efforts.