The release of the Thirty-sixth Report of the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team (UNMT) under UNSC Resolution 2734 (2024) is a stark reminder of the complex and dangerous landscape of terrorism in South Asia. For Pakistan, the findings validate what it has been saying for years: that Afghanistan has become a permissive environment for terrorist groups, with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), Al-Qaida, and regional outfits such as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) operating freely under the tacit tolerance—if not outright support—of the Interim Afghan Government (IAG).

This recognition from the UN is not just an affirmation of Pakistan’s long-standing concerns but also a sobering warning to the international community: unchecked terrorist activity in Afghanistan is a regional and global threat that can no longer be ignored.

The UN report reveals that the TTP maintains a formidable fighting force of around 6,000 militants. Far from being a fragmented group in decline, the TTP has consolidated its operational strength, thanks in large part to the permissive environment provided by the Taliban-led IAG. This has translated into an increase in both the scale and lethality of attacks, with Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies, civilians, and infrastructure bearing the brunt.

Pakistan has suffered dozens of cross-border attacks orchestrated by the TTP in recent years, undermining its internal security and derailing counter-terrorism gains achieved through sustained military campaigns such as Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad. The report validates Islamabad’s repeated warnings that Afghan soil is being used as a launch pad for terrorism against Pakistan, directly contravening the Taliban’s pledges under the Doha Agreement, where it committed to prevent its territory from threatening other states.

Perhaps the most alarming aspect of the UN report is its disclosure of tactical-level cooperation between TTP and ISKP. Though ideologically distinct—the former aligned with the Taliban’s Deobandi roots and the latter loyal to the Salafi-jihadist vision of ISIS—the groups have demonstrated pragmatism by coordinating on the battlefield. This convergence amplifies the threat: two deadly organizations working in tandem can achieve far more destruction than they could individually.

The report also highlights another disturbing development: collaboration between the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), particularly its Majeed Brigade suicide wing, and the TTP in southern Afghanistan. Not only do they reportedly share at least four training camps—including Walikot and Shorabak—but they also receive ideological indoctrination and weapons training from Al-Qaida operatives. This three-way nexus of TTP, BLA, and Al-Qaida is a recipe for sustained regional instability, linking Pakistan’s western border insecurities with global jihadist networks.

This makes ISKP not just an Afghan or Pakistani problem, but a transnational threat with implications for Eurasian stability. Its growing ability to attract foreign fighters, stage high-profile attacks, and coordinate with other extremist groups demonstrates that Afghanistan risks becoming a new epicenter for global terrorism—similar to the pre-9/11 era.

The Taliban’s inability—or unwillingness—to curb terrorist activity on Afghan soil represents a clear breach of international commitments. The Doha Agreement was explicit in obligating the Taliban to ensure that Afghan soil would not be used to threaten the security of other countries. The UN’s findings show the opposite: terrorist organizations not only persist but thrive.

For Pakistan, this breach is not an abstract concern. It translates into daily security challenges, from cross-border infiltrations to coordinated terror attacks in urban centers. By exposing the IAG’s failure to honor its commitments, the UNMT report strengthens Pakistan’s case that the international community must hold the Afghan leadership accountable.

The UN’s acknowledgment of these threats should not remain confined to a written report. It must serve as a catalyst for collective international action. Afghanistan cannot be allowed to revert to a sanctuary for global terrorism. The world has already witnessed the consequences of neglect in the pre-2001 period, which culminated in the 9/11 attacks. Ignoring the current warning signs risks repeating history.

The 36th UNMT Report is more than an assessment—it is a red flag for the international system. Afghanistan has once again become a permissive environment for terrorist groups whose ambitions extend far beyond its borders. For Pakistan, this confirmation of its long-standing claims is bittersweet: vindication of its warnings, but also a reminder of the clear and present danger it continues to face. If the world fails to act on these findings, the consequences will not be confined to Pakistan alone. Terrorism thrives on neglect, and Afghanistan today risks becoming the staging ground for the next wave of global instability. The choice before the international community is clear: confront the threat now, or pay a far higher price later.