A United Nations report has revealed undeniable evidence of the continued presence and activity of Al-Qaeda and Fitna al-Khawarij in Afghanistan, raising serious concerns about the resurgence of global terrorism in the region.
The 46th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team was submitted to the UN Security Council on July 24, detailing how Afghanistan’s informal authorities have allowed terrorist groups to operate freely, endangering both regional and international peace.
Al-Qaeda fighters active across key Afghan provinces
According to the report, Al-Qaeda’s presence in Afghanistan remains concentrated among fighters of Arab origin, many of whom had previously fought alongside the Taliban.
The organization and its allied groups have spread across several provinces, including Ghazni, Helmand, Kandahar, Kunar, Uruzgan, and Zabul. These areas are known for serving as safe havens for militants and for hosting terrorist training and logistical centers.
The UN monitoring team confirmed the existence of multiple Al-Qaeda-affiliated training facilities, with three new centers identified where both Al-Qaeda and Fitna al-Khawarij operatives are receiving training.
Fitna al-Khawarij forces estimated at 6,000 fighters
The report provides particularly troubling insights into the scale of Fitna al-Khawarij’s activities in Afghanistan. Paragraph 19 of the document estimates that the group currently maintains a force of approximately 6,000 fighters, equipped and trained for insurgent operations across the region.
The report underscores that these fighters are well-organized and pose a direct threat to Central Asian stability, especially given their ability to move across porous borders.
Afghan authorities accused of enabling terrorist groups
In a strongly worded section, page 16 of the UN report accuses Afghanistan’s informal authorities -- a reference to the current Taliban administration -- of giving free rein to terrorist organizations operating within its territory.
It highlights the lack of counterterrorism enforcement, stating that these groups have been allowed to rebuild command structures, recruit new members, and reestablish cross-border facilitation networks with minimal interference.
“The informal authorities have granted terrorist organizations significant operational space, which poses a serious and growing threat to the security of Central Asia and beyond,” the report warns.
Regional security and global implications
The United Nations emphasized that dismantling terrorist facilitation networks in Afghanistan is critical for achieving lasting peace in the region. The report calls for coordinated international efforts to counter these organizations’ influence before they can reemerge as global threats.
Security experts believe the resurgence of Al-Qaeda and Fitna al-Khawarij in Afghanistan could destabilize regional peace and undermine counterterrorism efforts that had seen progress in recent years.
“The evidence presented leaves little doubt — Afghanistan continues to serve as a sanctuary for transnational terrorist groups,” analysts noted, urging greater vigilance from neighboring countries.
