UN Report Highlights Growing Links Between Afghanistan-Based Militants and Attacks in Pakistan

New York (Terror Monitor) — Links between militant networks operating from Afghanistan and terrorist attacks in Pakistan are growing, according to a United Nations report.

The report said that after Al-Qaeda withdrew from Afghanistan in 2001, its fighters moved into Pakistan’s tribal areas, where the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) provided them with shelter. Since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, ties between the two organizations have strengthened further.

According to the UN report, Al-Qaeda has supported the TTP in strengthening its strategy, training capabilities and propaganda operations.

In April this year, Al-Qaeda’s media wing publicly announced its support for the outlawed TTP’s operations against Pakistan for the first time.

U.S. professor Amira Jadoon said the relationship between the two organizations ranges from operational assistance at the grassroots level to the integration of their narratives at senior levels.

Another research consultant said that since 2020, Al-Qaeda has been urging the Pakistani Taliban to dissolve its separate organizational structure and merge with Al-Qaeda.

Some experts believe the Afghan Taliban may also be exerting pressure behind this effort. Since returning to power in 2021, the Afghan Taliban has provided various militant groups with shelter, accommodation and financial stipends, among other forms of support.

Reports indicate that the Afghan Taliban has also issued local identification cards to members linked to the TTP, Al-Qaeda and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). These reportedly include Uyghurs affiliated with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), also known as the Turkistan Islamic Party.

According to the United Nations, Al-Qaeda’s support is not limited to the outlawed TTP but also extends to militant groups including the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan. The report said Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent provides training and strategic assistance to Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan.

However, some experts believe that Al-Qaeda and the TTP have different objectives and strategies. Despite this, ideological similarities have allowed cooperation to continue in areas including media, propaganda, training and logistical support.

In December 2025, the United Nations described Al-Qaeda as a “service provider” for militant groups operating in Afghanistan, saying the organization provides them with training, advice and logistical support.