The 32nd report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the UN pursuant to Resolution 2610 (2021) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities has rightly pointed out for counter terrorism apparatus to be one step ahead of the ever-adapting terrorist organisations to changing environment. The report held Afghanistan as a significant place for global terrorism. The report mentions the threat emanating from Afghanistan to its neighbours that is Central Asian Republics, China and Pakistan and periphery regions and countries like IIOJK and Bangladesh.

While analysing the report one must bear in mind that the report has been compiled on the assessments shared by member states. One must not be oblivious to the fact that states most of the time do not come clean on cloak and dagger matters. Each state has its own agenda and interests to pursue. Some countries in the region in the past have urged Pakistan to deport their nationals allegedly involved in terrorist activities, who in fact were either dissidents or political opponents of their governments. 

The report has indicated a relationship between Afghan Taliban and Al Qaeda that is being used by the latter for inconspicuously creep into the LEAs and government entities to protect its cadre. 

Editorial concern about TTP providing some sort of umbrella to foreign terrorist groups like AQ while referring to the report sounds premature as the possibility has been mentioned as an apprehension of some Member States and there has been no hint of whether the development is in the works and without conclusive opinion. 

Joining hands by TTP and AQ seems to be exaggerated. The report has based its estimation on the opinion of one Member State and that too about AQ in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). 

The report has built different scenarios. At times its assessments seem to be contradictory and based on apprehensions rather than on firsthand information. We must not be carried away with the findings of the report unless sources of the information are revealed to distinguish between contrived and genuine information. 

Author: Khurram Aslam Khan, Former Joint Director General, Intelligence Bureau.