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A peculiar tragedy continues to unfold in Afghanistan. Countries endure hardships, gain knowledge, recover, and progress, but the Afghan narrative appears stuck in a cycle that constantly drags it back into destruction. It was never destined for Afghans to endlessly grieve and suffer. Their future has the potential to transform if they adopt the frameworks of a contemporary, globally connected society. The issue remains how much time the region and the broader international community can tolerate waiting for this transformation.

New evidence indicates that Afghanistan is quickly becoming a safe haven for international terrorist organizations once more. The indicators are not hidden or isolated. They are visible, frequent, and increasingly hazardous, extending well beyond Pakistan, which has long borne the greatest responsibility for militancy based in Afghanistan.

The latest instance occurred on 27 November, when a quadcopter originating from Afghan territory struck Chinese personnel in Tajikistan. This incident confirmed a concern that has been increasingly rising within regional intelligence agencies: Afghanistan is evolving into a center for international extremist groups that are now extending their violent activities beyond its borders.

Just a day prior, another concerning event occurred in Washington, DC. An Afghan immigrant carried out an attack that resulted in the deaths of two National Guard members, shaking American security organizations. CIA Director Akash Patel later stated that the attacker, Rahmaullah Lakawani, had been in communication with groups operating within Afghanistan. It served as a sobering reminder that terrorism nurtured in one area often does not remain limited to that region.

These situations are not exceptions. Regular reports from the UN Monitoring Team keep recording the growth of global terrorist organizations within Afghanistan. The SIGAR reports from 2024 and 2025 support the same conclusion. The trend is clear and evident: militant groups that were defeated in other areas are reorganizing inside Afghanistan due to the availability of space, backing, and lack of consequences.

Last week, Sandra Jensen Landi, Denmark’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, cautioned the Security Council that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has become a ‘significant threat’ to South and Central Asia. She reported to the Council that approximately six thousand TTP militants are actively operating in Afghanistan, with the current authorities offering them logistical and material support. Her concerns went further. She pointed out the revival of ISIL-Khorasan, Al Qaeda, and other international groups that are increasing their recruitment efforts, spreading online propaganda, and even exploring the use of cryptocurrencies to evade conventional financial oversight.

Russia has expressed comparable concerns. Sergei Shoigu, head of the Russian Security Council, stated that extremist organizations based in Afghanistan present an immediate danger to surrounding countries. Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s UN Ambassador, cautioned that ISKP and related groups are expanding their influence, obtaining foreign financial support, and possibly acquiring advanced weapons abandoned by Western forces. He indicated that these networks are intentionally creating unrest, with the possibility of extending terrorist activities into Central Asia and beyond.

The United Nations currently estimates that almost thirteen thousand foreign fighters are located within Afghanistan. TTP accounts for approximately six thousand two hundred, ISKP three thousand, Al Qaeda and AQIS around nine hundred, IMU three hundred, ETIM three hundred, Jamaat Ansarullah roughly three hundred, and approximately two thousand five hundred fighters are part of other organizations. These figures indicate that Afghanistan has once more turned into a draw for militants who have been weakened or defeated in other regions and are now looking for a new base of operations.

Reports also suggest that fighters from Syria and Iraq are gradually entering Afghanistan. Some are continuing their journey into Central Asian republics, utilizing Kunduz as a key transit hub. Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent has joined forces with TTP under the command of Usama Mahmood. At the same time, parts of AQAP are relocating from the Middle East to Afghanistan in pursuit of more favorable operational conditions.

The Taliban government, influenced by years of ideological ties to militant groups, seems either unwilling or incapable of controlling these factions. Tens of thousands of Taliban fighters are now without employment following the war’s conclusion. Many have enlisted with the TTP or other extremist groups for financial gain, power, or a sense of belonging. Deep poverty has also led many young Afghans down the same route. In this setting, these organizations are not only surviving but growing and getting ready for operations that match their regional or global goals.

If regional nations do not work together to create a unified approach against terrorism, they will face the repercussions of a large-scale haven for international extremists. The United States, Europe, and the Arab region will also not be immune. Terrorism is a disease that knows no boundaries or distances.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).