TTP, al-Qaeda collaboration threatening Afghanistan, region

KABUL -- The close relationship between Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al-Qaeda raises concerns that further cooperation could transform TTP into an "extraregional threat," according to a new United Nations (UN) report.

With an estimated 6,000 to 6,500 fighters, TTP remains "the largest terrorist group in Afghanistan," the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team said in a July 8 report that highlights the group's ties with al-Qaeda.

Al-Qaeda is expanding its operations in Afghanistan, with training camps in 12 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces, up from 10 reported in January.

"TTP continues to operate at significant scale in Afghanistan and to conduct terrorist operations into Pakistan from there, often utilizing Afghans," the report said.

TTP has concentrated its attacks -- which increased from 573 in 2021 to 715 in 2022 and 1,210 in 2023 -- in the Pakistani border provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, according to the report.

Al-Qaeda training has enabled TTP to carry out high-profile attacks on hard targets, the report said.

TTP's July 15 attack on a Pakistani military base in the KP town of Bannu was one of the group's deadliest in recent months.

At least eight Pakistani soldiers and 10 TTP attackers were killed during an 18-hour confrontation, according to Pakistani authorities.

The assault was carried out by fighters under the command of Afghanistan-based TTP leader Hafiz Gul Bahadur, said the Pakistani military.

Tensions between neighbors

Groups like TTP have caused the world to lose trust in Afghanistan, Herat-based activist Nazeer Ahmad Paiman told Salaam Times.

"Afghanistan is a poor country and needs cooperation with neighboring countries," he said. "The more Afghanistan's relations with neighboring countries and the region deteriorate, the more harm it brings to ordinary people."

"We often have witnessed Pakistan closing its borders to Afghans and Afghan traders' goods because of TTP," he said. "Every time this group carries out attacks inside Pakistan, Afghans have to bear the brunt."

TTP has grown because of support from al-Qaeda and other groups over the past three years, said Afghan military analyst Mohammad Naim Ghayur, who lives in Italy.

"Terrorist groups based in Afghanistan, such as TTP and al-Qaeda, have been greatly strengthened in terms of weapons and military equipment, number of fighters, control over a large geographical area, growth of financial resources and the establishment of training centers and safe havens," he said.

"The financial and logistical support from al-Qaeda has made TTP a very powerful terrorist group," he said. "Recent attacks by TTP on Pakistani military installations show that this terrorist group has become very strong."