Kabul enabler of TTP attacks: UN report

UNITED NATIONS:

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a United Nations designated terrorist group, continued to receive from Afghanistan's de facto authorities logistical and operational space as well as financial support in conducting cross-border attacks in Pakistan, according to a new UN report.

The UN sanctions monitoring team released its annual assessment late Thursday amid a surge in TTP terror attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians, killing a number of them in recent weeks.

"The ambition and scale of TTP's attacks on Pakistan, though, had significantly increased, with over six hundred attacks during the reporting period, including from Afghan territory," the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team reported.

TTP, it said, established new training centers in Afghanistan's Kunar, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktika (Barmal) provinces while enhancing recruitment within the group's cadres, including from the Afghan Taliban.

Also reported was an increase in collaboration between TTP, Afghan Taliban, and al-Qaeda in the Sub-continent, conducting attacks under the banner of Tehrik-e-Jihad-e-Pakistan.

"Greater facilitation among these groups and TTP in terms of provision of suicide bombers and fighters and ideological guidance might transform the latter into an extra-regional threat and an umbrella organization for other terrorist groups operating in the region," the report said.

"With over two dozen terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan, the security threat emanating from the country is a continuing driver of instability in the region and beyond," it said.

"The presence of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan posed a serious challenge to the stability of the country, as well as to the security of neighbouring states."

According to the report, ISIL-Khorasan suffered a significant setback in the summer, when Pakistani security forces foiled an attempt by its external operation branch to establish itself inside Pakistan, resulting in the arrest of high-profile operatives. These included Adil Panjsheri (Afghan), Abu Munzir (Tajik) and Kaka Younis (Uzbek), who, it said, were central figures in the recruitment, travel and funding of fighters and suicide bombers.

"To avoid detection and minimize arrests, ISIL-K leadership replaced electronic and internet-based communications in favour of old-fashioned methods through a network of couriers to deliver instructions and conduct in-person meetings."

The Majeed Brigade, a dedicated death squad of the Baluchistan Liberation Army claimed carrying out several high-casualty attacks in the reporting period.

The brigade included females in its ranks and operated across the southern region of Pakistan, including Awaran, Panjgur and Dalbandin, it was pointed out.