Islamic State-Khorasan’s growing influence in Afghanistan poses a major security risk to the region and beyond, warns UN Security Council.
The UN Security Council has raised alarms over the increasing threat posed by Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) in Afghanistan, warning that the group is actively plotting attacks beyond the region. UN counterterrorism chief Vladimir Voronkov stated that IS-K remains one of the most dangerous branches of ISIS, with networks reaching Europe and Central Asia. The U.S. and China echoed concerns, urging Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to take decisive action against the terrorist group.
Russia blamed the 2021 NATO withdrawal for fueling IS-K’s expansion, claiming that abandoned Western military equipment has strengthened the group. Meanwhile, Pakistan rejected suggestions that IS-K is recruiting from its territory, insisting that Afghanistan remains the hub for the group’s activities. The Taliban, despite previous claims of eliminating IS-K, continue to face deadly insurgent attacks, including the assassination of a top Taliban minister in December.
With IS-K’s reach growing, the UN has urged all member states to coordinate efforts to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a global terror epicenter once again.
