The United Nations has warned that the Islamic State's Khorasan branch (ISIS-K) remains a potent security threat in Afghanistan and beyond, maintaining an estimated 2,000 fighters and actively indoctrinating children under the age of 14 for suicide missions.
Khaama Press News Agency reports according to a recent report by the UN Security Council (UNSC), ISIS-K's leadership is dominated by Afghan Pashtuns, while its rank-and-file includes militants from Central Asian countries. The group's main objectives, the report states, are to stage high-profile global attacks, attract new recruits, and secure financial backing.
The report paints a bleak picture of Afghanistan as a hub for terrorism, hosting more than 20 regional and international terrorist groups. Among these are Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, Al Qaeda, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, Jamaat Ansarullah, and the United Mujahideen Front of Pakistan—all implicated in attacks across Afghanistan and neighboring countries.
Despite Taliban intelligence officials claiming that ISIS-K does not maintain a permanent presence in the country, the UN and independent international observers dispute this, citing evidence of ongoing militant activity. UN monitors described Taliban assertions as "unsubstantiated", adding that multiple countries consistently report the continued presence of extremist groups in Afghanistan.
Of particular concern is the group’s exploitation of children. The report reveals that ISIS-K has established schools in northern Afghanistan and near the Pakistan border, where minors are allegedly indoctrinated and trained for suicide attacks. The UN called this development “deeply alarming.”
In a related development, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) recently arrested Sultan Aziz Azzam, a prominent ISIS-K spokesperson, near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. This move highlights Pakistan’s continued efforts to counter cross-border terrorism.
The UN report also notes that ISIS-K and affiliated groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan have conducted cross-border attacks into Pakistan from Afghan territory, further straining relations between Kabul and Islamabad.
Experts warn that without robust international cooperation and counterterrorism initiatives, Afghanistan could remain a safe haven for extremist groups with the potential to destabilize the broader region.
