The UN Security Council has warned that the Khorasan branch of the Islamic State group, known as ISIS-K, continues to pose a major threat to Afghanistan and regional stability, with growing reach into Europe and Central Asia.
Senior UN counter-terrorism officials briefed the Council on Wednesday during a review of the latest report by the secretary-general on ISIS and its global threat to peace and security.
Vladimir Voronkov, UN under-secretary-general for counter-terrorism, said ISIS remains among the most dangerous security challenges, noting that the group is exploiting new technologies such as cryptocurrencies and encrypted networks to expand its operations.
Natalia Gherman, head of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, said ISIS-K is entrenched in Afghanistan while actively seeking recruits in Central Asia and Europe and soliciting funds through online propaganda.
Council members highlighted that the group’s increasing reliance on digital currencies has complicated efforts to disrupt its financial networks. They stressed that defeating ISIS-K would require broad international cooperation.
UN officials urged member states to adopt comprehensive, human-rights-based approaches and maintain global unity in the fight against terrorism.
The briefing also underscored that Africa remains heavily affected, with UN counter-terrorism chiefs warning the continent now faces the highest levels of ISIS activity worldwide.
In a recent report, UN experts wrote that the Taliban have provided a permissive environment for foreign terrorist groups in Afghanistan, heightening security concerns for Central Asia and beyond. The report added that multiple training camps linked to al-Qaeda are operating inside the country.
