UN report claims 6,500 Pakistanis among foreign terrorists in Afghanistan

re are 6,500 Pakistanis among or foreign terrorist fighters in Afghanistan allied to groups like Taliban, Al-Qaida, and Islamic State in Iraq and Levant-Khorasan (ISIL-K), a United Nations report has said.

A report of Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which was submitted to UN Security Council (UNSC), says among those groups posing a security threat, Afghan officials highlighted Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jaish-i-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba groups on which Team has written in previous reports.

" presence of se groups is centred in eastern provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar and Nuristan, where y operate under umbrella of Afghan Taliban," says report. TTP, JeM and LeT are all designated terror groups in India and latter two have been involved in cross-border attacks on civilians as well as military targets.

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spring offensive

report has observed that Afghan Taliban have issued anuncement of a spring offensive for 2020 yet, possibly indicating that group wishes to display some moderation in face of international and national pressure to reach a peace agreement with Government of Afghanistan. "It is possible that decision has been affected by current COVID-19 pandemic, whose eventual effects on military operations are t yet clear," report says.

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Taliban members close to 1 lakh

UN report estimates that number of Taliban fighters ranges from 55,000 to 85,000 in Afghanistan and group's facilitators and n-combatants could bring total figure to 1,00,000. It also said that control of 50 to 60% of Afghan territory was contested between Taliban and government forces during reporting period. re are 21 districts currently reported to be under full Taliban control, down from between 25 and 30 districts in previous reporting period.

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Big revenues

It also said that estimates by member states and ors of overall Taliban annual combined revenues range from $300 million to urds of $1.5 billion per annum; thanks to  retaking of large poppy-cultivating areas in Nangarhar and proceeds from sale of narcotics like methamphetamine.

"Narcotic smuggling networks operate in Nangarhar and into Pakistan with reported acquiescence of security officials who regulate and profit from smuggling of heroin, hashish and or goods. Security officials reportedly allowed smuggling syndicates, kwn as tanzeems, to operate without fear of arrest in return for a portion of profit. Revenues were ultimately shared between security officials, hes of tanzeems and Taliban. Interlocutors stated that this system was “a big source of revenue for Taliban”," tes UN report.

(AP Photo for representation)

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