UN Security Council Reports: Mansouri Battalion is Stationed in Badakhshan
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has confirmed that the Taliban has deployed the Mansouri Battalion, a suicide unit made up of fighters from Jamaat Ansarullah and Al-Qaeda, in Badakhshan province in northern Afghanistan. This was mentioned in the UNSC’s latest report, issued by its Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team.
According to the report, the Taliban is using this unit to target anti-Taliban resistance groups, particularly the National Resistance Front and the Afghanistan Freedom Front. These groups have been actively carrying out attacks against Taliban forces in Kabul and northern provinces over the past three years.
The report also highlights Al-Qaeda’s growing presence in Afghanistan, facilitated by the Taliban. Al-Qaeda is said to have established bases, safe houses, and training camps across the country. Lower-ranking Al-Qaeda members and their families reportedly live under Taliban protection in areas like Qala-e-Fathullah, Shahr-e-Naw, and Wazir Akbar Khan in Kabul. Meanwhile, senior Al-Qaeda leaders have moved to rural areas such as Balghli village in Sar-e Pol province, as well as Kunar, Ghazni, Logar, and Wardak provinces.
Among the key figures mentioned is Hamza Saleh bin Saeed Al-Ghamdi, a senior Al-Qaeda leader and close associate of Osama bin Laden. Some countries have reported that Al-Ghamdi and his family are currently residing in Sherpur, a highly secure area in Kabul. Another figure, Abu Ikhlas Al-Masri, has been moved to the Afshar district of Kabul, where the Taliban has established a training center for its forces.
Additionally, Russia has raised concerns about ISIS attempting to destabilize the Wakhan Corridor and northern Afghanistan, warning of a potential threat to Central Asia and beyond.
The report highlights the shifting security landscape in Afghanistan and its potential impact on regional stability.
