Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – The United States has warned that ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) remains a serious security threat in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the terror group continuing to plot attacks and expand its recruitment efforts.
Speaking at the UN Security Council, Ambassador Dorothy Shea, the US Charge d’Affaires ad interim to the UN, reiterated Washington’s concerns over ISIS-K’s ability to sustain its operations in the region. “We remain concerned about ISIS-K’s capabilities to plot and conduct attacks, as well as sustain recruitment campaigns, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” she said.
Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General for the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, echoed these concerns, stating that ISIS-K poses a “significant threat” in Afghanistan, the broader region, and beyond. He highlighted reports of ISIS-K supporters attempting to orchestrate attacks in Europe and recruiting individuals from Central Asia. “There were also reports of small numbers of foreign terrorist fighters continuing to travel to Afghanistan,” he added.
UN officials also pointed to the global reach of ISIS affiliates, with Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), Natalia Gherman, warning that the group is exploiting instability in multiple regions. She referenced the ‘Delhi Declaration,’ adopted by the UN Security Council during India’s tenure, which focuses on countering the use of emerging technologies for terrorism financing and operations.
Shea further noted the expansion of ISIS-affiliated groups in Africa, particularly in the Sahel region, where the group has escalated its attacks. The US urged the UN Security Council to take stronger action, including listing more ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates under the UN’s 1267 sanctions regime, which would impose asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes.
Voronkov emphasized that terrorism remains a constantly evolving threat that requires sustained international cooperation. “No state can confront this challenge in isolation,” he said, calling for strengthened multilateral efforts to counter terrorism while upholding human rights and international law.
The warning from the US and UN officials comes as Afghanistan continues to face instability following the Taliban’s return to power, with concerns mounting over the resurgence of terrorist groups in the region.
