TSB SPECIAL REPORT

Farishta Jami, a 36-year-old woman from Stratford, UK, has been found guilty of multiple terrorism offenses for attempting to join the Islamic State Khurasan Province (ISKP) in Afghanistan. A jury at Leicester Crown Court convicted her on two counts of preparing for terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

Jami’s plans were deeply concerning. She intended to travel to Afghanistan to carry out a martyrdom operation, and the second charge stemmed from her plan to take her children along. Investigations revealed that she had saved £1,200 for one-way tickets and had actively searched for available flights. She also hid passports, electronic devices, and SIM cards while sharing extremist and violent content on social media.

Additionally, Jami played a key role in online extremist circles. She served as an administrator for several pro-Daesh groups, some with over 700 members, where she facilitated the distribution of propaganda and violent instructional materials. Authorities also discovered that she had researched weaponry, including how to assemble and disassemble an AK-47 rifle.

Law enforcement officials welcomed the verdict, emphasizing the real-world danger posed by Jami’s actions. Superintendent Darren Webster highlighted the importance of public vigilance and urged people to report any suspicious behavior.

Jami’s raises concerns about the Taliban government’s ability to prevent terrorist groups from operating within Afghanistan. Pakistan has been already raising a clarion over the presence of terrorist groups there since 2022.  The Afghan Taliban government has consistently claimed that it will not allow Afghanistan to be used as a base for international terrorism. Despite these claims, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISKP have maintained a presence in Afghanistan, carrying out attacks and recruiting fighters.
The fact that Jami was able to plan her trip and communicate with ISKP members without being detected by the Taliban authorities raises questions about the government’s effectiveness in preventing terrorism. ISKP, as well as TTP, are able to recruit foreign fighters which strengthens their capabilities to carry out terrorism in neighbouring countries. Their continued presence in Afghanistan poses a threat to regional security, particularly in neighboring countries such as Pakistan and Tajikistan.
After the Jami case the Taliban government may face increased international pressure to take action against ISKP and other terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan. A UN report has already indicated Taliban govt’s support to TTP which launches terrorist acts against Pakistan. Pakistan must grab this opportunity to highlight the issue at international level to mount pressure on them. The Taliban must realise that their inability to prevent terrorist activities may damage their reputation and legitimacy, both domestically and internationally.