UN report flags TTP's cross-border terrorist threat

A new United Nations report highlights the continued and ever-growing cross-border terrorist threat posed by the Afghan-Taliban backed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which escalated attacks against Pakistan, provoking military exchanges.

"The terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan remained largely unchanged," according to the 38th report of the UN monitoring team submitted to the UN Security Council, pointing out the Taliban backing of the TTP.

Diplomats noted that the report reinforces similar concerns expressed by an earlier report by the UN Monitoring Team on various terrorist groups.

"Member States expressed concern that the conflict could create opportunities for terrorist groups, generating additional security challenges for the region," the new report said.

"The ability of numerous terrorist groups to operate in Afghanistan constituted an enduring threat to neighbouring countries and the Central Asian region," it said.

"Despite efforts by the de facto (Taliban) authorities to combat Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISIL-K, Q) and contain other terrorist groups, the authorities were unable to suppress the terrorist problem."

Regional Member States reported that ISIL -K, which poses greart treat to the region, had modern tactical equipment, including drones, night vision devices and thermal imagers, and received training in urban combat and the use of drones.

"One Member State reported that ISIL-K and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) shared facilitation networks for the provision of logistics.

On 25 December, the report disclosed, following its annual leadership council, TTP's announcement of a revised structure with two new divisions covering: (a) Balochistan and the central region; and (b) Kashmir and the division of Gilgit.

The restructuring included a new division described as the TTP Air Force, according to the report.