Qabour: The fierce surge in millions of immigrants has been forced by Pakistan and Iran to put Afghanistan in trouble, which could fuel radical ISIS group of activities, diplomatic and security sources.
About 2.6 million Afghans have returned since January, including many who have spent decades abroad or entered Afghanistan for the first time. “These newly arrived Afghans are at high risk,” said Hans-Jakob Schindler, former coordinator of armed groups of the United Nations Commission.
Afghanistan’s security has been greatly improved since the Taliban won They targeted the NATO-backed government and returned to power in 2021. However, local branches of IS-A rival Jihad have experienced periodic attacks in eastern Afghanistan and remain a threat to Taliban rule and the wider region.
“Since August 2021, the organization has continued to recruit Talibans and Afghans who are not part of the new regime.” The United Nations warned in July that “the loose environment of many terrorist organizations… poses a serious threat to the security of Central Asia and other countries.”
It said the worst threat came from IS, with 2,000 combatants carrying out deadly attacks in Russia, Iran and Pakistan over the past few years. Although the Pakistan Taliban is a separate but closely related group with the Afghan Taliban, it has three times more combatants, but it focuses on a campaign against the security forces of the Pakistani government.
Islamabad has been accusing Afghan rulers of providing safe havens to militant groups. The Taliban government has repeatedly claimed that there are “no more terrorist organizations” in Afghanistan.
“Foreigners” in their own country
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) predicts that up to 4 million Afghans can return to the country by the end of the year. Upon arrival, “they faced a huge challenge, no job, housing or access to basic services,” noted Indika Ratwatte, the country’s inhumanitarian coordinator. “They may become vulnerable to negative response mechanisms, including exploitation by armed groups.”
Nearly half of Afghanistan’s 48 million people live below the poverty line, while nearly a quarter of 15-29-year-olds are unemployed, according to the World Bank. “We already know that some Afghans have joined terrorist organizations not out of belief, but out of ‘economic necessity’,” European sources said.
Amina Khan of the Islamabad Strategic Institute (ISSI) said that Afghans who have spent decades abroad are considered outsiders.
Some will have resentment towards Pakistan take away Their business and property. “They are perfect feed for these transnational terrorist groups operating in the region,” she said.
According to Moscow, Afghanistan is home to about 23,000 fighters from 20 different organizations. Russian Security Council Secretary General Sergei Shougu said at the end of August: “The most concerned are the activities of the Afghan branch of (IS).
Posted in Dawn on September 26, 2025
