‘TTP looking to unite with Al Qaeda to grow influence’

UN Security Council was told in a monitoring report that the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) may be looking to unite with Al Qaeda to form an organization that would house all militant groups operating in South Asia.

The report stated that "some [UN] member states expressed concern that TTP might serve as a hub for a variety of foreign groups to operate under, or even coalesce, avoiding attempts at control by the Taliban."

The assessment, created by a UN panel that tracks terrorist activity throughout the world, supported Pakistan's argument that the TTP, which is banned, has grown in power in Afghanistan since the Taliban took power.

One of the countries involved raised the prospect of [Al Qaeda and TTP combining]. According to its assessment, [Al Qaeda] is advising TTP to carry out more strikes inside Pakistan, and the study issued a warning.

The report claims that members of the outlawed TTP also use the training facilities provided by numerous terrorist organizations in Afghanistan's Kunar province.

The TTP has desired to re-establish control of territory in Pakistan "since it was reunited with several splinter groups, and encouraged by the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan."

TTP's capability is considered to fall short of its goals given that it has little territorial authority and little support in the tribal areas, according to the assessment.

As part of the Taliban's efforts to contain the organization in response to pressure from the Pakistani government, the UN committee said that in June, some members of the TTP were shifted away from the border region.

 

The UN committee revealed light on how the TTP, which is prohibited, was growing in strength in Afghanistan after the Afghan Taliban seized power in August 2021 in its report, which was presented to the Security Council on July 25. The report also emphasized how other terrorist groups were operating in the country's war-torn territory under the TTP's cover.

The banned TTP could pose a regional threat if it maintains a safe operating base in Afghanistan; member states expressed worry to UN monitors.

According to increasing reports, other authorized terrorist organizations are aiding the TTP to escape the Afghan Taliban's supervision.

It was estimated that the core of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan consists of 30 to 60 people and that there are 400 Al Qaeda militants overall, adding up to 2,000 when family members are included. On the Indian Subcontinent, Al Qaeda had about 200 militants.

 

The Taliban leaders in Afghanistan, however, have disregarded the UN assessment as being inaccurate. "The statement from the UN Security Council is inaccurate. Al Qaeda is not present in Afghanistan, according to a tweet posted on Friday by the Afghan Taliban's main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.