CSTO Calls Afghanistan As Potential Source Of Terrorist Threats To Central Asia

According to the findings, Afghans make up the second-largest foreign community in the country, following Iraqis.

The TSI data also indicates that the total number of foreign residents in Türkiye stood at 1,480,547 over the past year, reflecting a decrease of 89,996 compared to 2023.

The report highlights that citizens from Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Turkmenistan, and Iran are among the most represented foreign nationals in the country.

Notably, Türkiye’s address registration system is only available to individuals with legal residency status, meaning that undocumented refugees are not included in the official counts.

The TSI further reported that Türkiye’s overall population has reached 85,664,944, marking an increase of approximately 292,000 people compared to the previous year.

The session will review a report submitted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, outlining the ongoing dangers posed by the terrorist group.

The Secretary-General’s report, which was distributed to Security Council members on 31 January, highlights that ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) remains a significant threat both inside and outside Afghanistan.

According to the report, ISIS continues to wield considerable propaganda influence and retains access to substantial financial reserves, with its funds in Iraq and Syria alone estimated at approximately $10 million.

The document also references an ISIS suicide attack in Afghanistan, which resulted in the death of Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban’s Minister of Refugees. The report suggests that the attack may have been an attempt to challenge the Taliban’s claims of maintaining security in Afghanistan.

Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani was killed on 11 December 2024, in an explosion at the Ministry of Refugees building in Kabul. ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attack.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Pakistani military alleged that the deceased was involved in terrorist activities and cited his death as “irrefutable evidence of Afghan nationals’ involvement in terrorism within Pakistan.”

According to the statement, Nusrat was killed on 6 February in an operation conducted by security forces in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan.

The statement further revealed that the Taliban had contacted Pakistan to retrieve the body of the slain Afghan national. Authorities confirmed that Nusrat was a resident of Khost province of Afghanistan.

The Pakistan Army reiterated its expectation that the Taliban administration upholds its commitments and prevents terrorists from using Afghan soil to launch attacks on Pakistan.

According to sources shared with Afghanistan International, the event will bring together representatives from the Taliban, political parties, civil society, and women. Expected attendees include the sons of Hazara leaders Karim Khalili and Mohammad Mohaqiq, a representative of Jamiat e Islami party leader Salahuddin Rabbani, a delegate from the Islamic Movement Council, the son of Hizbe Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, as well as former member of parliament Farkhunda Zahra Naderi.

Although some journalists have been invited, the forum has imposed restrictions on media coverage, barring any reporting on the discussions. Like the first round of the process, this meeting will be conducted behind closed doors.

Uncertainty Over Taliban Participation

The first round of the National Dialogue Process, held in November 2023, gathered 70 representatives from diverse political and ethnic groups, ethnic, and factions. However, several Taliban representatives and key political figures declined to participate. It remains unclear whether the Taliban will attend this second round of the process.

Participants of the inaugural round of the process had emphasised the necessity of a transparent intra-Afghan dialogue process to pave the way for meaningful political engagement.

Objectives of the National Dialogue Process

The National Dialogue Process consists of 35 permanent members and convenes every three months to foster a culture of dialogue. Its primary objective is to provide a platform for constructive discussions between Afghans inside and outside the country, promoting national trust and addressing Afghanistan’s political, social, economic, and cultural challenges.

Established in 2022 as a collective initiative of Afghan political, social, and economic leaders, the assembly operates with a council-based structure and a rotating leadership.

Prominent figures leading the forum include Uzbek young leader Babar Farahmand, former minister Mustafa Mastoor, former deputy ministers Hikmat Khalil Karzai, and Idris Zaman.

Speaking in an interview with Fox Business on Thursday, Sopko stated that U.S. aid has been channelled into Afghanistan through organisations such as the United Nations and the World Food Programme (WFP), but oversight of its allocation and expenditure has been inadequate.

Previously, Sopko called on Congress to terminate SIGAR after 30 September 2025, citing the significant reduction in U.S. aid to Afghanistan. He underscored that the issue transcends any single institution or individual, attributing it to systemic failures within U.S. agencies to manage financial resources transparently and effectively in Afghanistan over the past two decades.

Earlier this year, Sopko had warned that U.S. funds were being siphoned into the Taliban’s coffers. He also disclosed that certain employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) had attempted to report on financial mismanagement in Afghanistan but were ignored in Washington.

Taliban Rejects Allegations

In response to Sopko’s remarks, the Taliban dismissed the claims as baseless. Abdul Latif Nazari, the Taliban’s Deputy Minister of Economy, stated that the group merely facilitates international aid efforts and does not interfere in the distribution of humanitarian assistance.

Sopko has previously warned that terrorist groups could exploit U.S. humanitarian aid, particularly funds sent via the UN to assist impoverished Afghans. He reiterated that a significant share of American taxpayer money, allocated through UN channels for Afghanistan, fails to reach those in need.

Financial Impact and U.S. Policy Shift

According to SIGAR’s latest report, published on 2 February 2025, the U.S. has spent approximately $3.71 billion in Afghanistan since its military withdrawal in 2021, with the majority of funds directed to UN agencies.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a temporary suspension of all foreign aid, including assistance to Afghanistan, for at least three months. This decision has heightened concerns over the future of humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, where millions remain dependent on international support.

Critics of the Taliban contend that the group exploits and interferes with humanitarian aid, diverting resources for its own benefit. Many analysts believe that cutting or suspending U.S. aid could exacerbate Afghanistan’s economic crisis, placing additional strain on the Taliban administration.