UN Report: Taliban Has Taken No Action Against Al-Qaeda
Tawazon – The United Nations Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team has stated in its 36th comprehensive report that individuals, groups, and networks affiliated with ISIS and al-Qaeda still represent a significant and persistent threats to global security.
The report, dated July 31, was formally submitted to the President of the Security Council, and UN member states were asked to share it with one another. Despite years of international pressure against these extremist groups, the report finds that ISIS and al-Qaeda remain regionally active, financially sustained, and continue to exert influence in several countries.
The report assesses the activities of ISIS and al-Qaeda in various regions, particularly in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Afghanistan, and categorizes their threat levels as “high and ongoing.”
Based on UN Security Council Resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011), and 2253 (2015), a special committee monitors the activities of ISIS, al-Qaeda, and related entities. Under this committee, the monitoring team produces a detailed and independent report every six months, drawing from evidence, investigations, intelligence, and cooperation from member states.
The report describes ISIS-Khorasan in Afghanistan as both a physical and ideological threat to the region. It continues to seek destabilization of neighboring countries and expansion of its networks. Meanwhile, al-Qaeda reportedly still operates through local channels inside Afghanistan.
The findings also indicate that the Taliban, despite global pressure, has attempted to conceal the presence of both groups. According to the report, these groups finance their operation through illicit sources such as mineral smuggling, narcotics trafficking, extortion, and misuse of charitable donations.
The monitoring team recommends updating the sanctions list, strengthening intelligence-sharing, and encouraging member states to take stronger actions to implement sanctions. It emphasizes that the international community must treat the threats posed by ISIS and al-Qaeda as a “strategic priority.”
This latest UN report serves as a clear reminder that the threat of terrorism is far from over, Although groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda may have lost some of their former strength, they remain alive, active, and dangerous.
Afghanistan, now seen as a potential safe haven for such groups, must be a focal point for global attention. Strong enforcement of sanctions, regional cooperation, and coordinated intelligence efforts are essential to neutralize these threats and safeguard international peace and security.
Tawazon reached out to Taliban spokespersons for their comments on the report, but they did not respond.
