It follows a 20 percent reduction in the group’s security forces.
In its latest report, the Security Council said the Taliban reduced their forces because of a budget crisis. The report noted that the order to cut personnel was issued by the Taliban leadership and that, after its implementation, the highest number of dismissals occurred in provinces where a significant share of Taliban fighters were Tajik or Uzbek.
Previously, a Taliban spokesperson had said the group was downsizing its forces because of what he described as “organisational inflation.”
Concerns Over Ethnic Impact
While the UN report does not explicitly state that dismissals were carried out on the basis of ethnicity, it said the concentration of layoffs in Tajik- and Uzbek-majority provinces has raised concerns about the ethnic implications of the decision.
According to the report, after Badakhshan, the highest number of dismissals was recorded in Kapisa, Parwan and Takhar provinces, where many Tajik and Uzbek Taliban fighters are based.
ISKP Expanding Activities Using Artificial Intelligence
The report said the 20 percent reduction in Taliban security forces comes at a time when the group faces continued security threats, particularly from Islamic State–Khorasan (ISKP).
According to the UN, ISKP has expanded its training and propaganda activities by using modern tools, including artificial intelligence. The group has reportedly used such technology to produce instructional materials, including guides on making improvised explosive devices. The UN sanctions monitoring team warned that this development, combined with Taliban force reductions, could create new security challenges for Afghanistan.
The report said the Taliban have carried out counter-ISKP operations since the beginning of 2025, but described ISKP as “resilient,” with the threat continuing.
Taliban Denials and Counterterrorism Efforts
The UN said the Taliban often deny the presence of ISKP in Afghanistan and accuse neighbouring countries of supporting the group. At the same time, despite claiming to have suppressed ISKP, the Taliban have regularly sought external counterterrorism assistance to combat the group.
The report also said more than 20 international and regional terrorist organisations are currently active in Afghanistan, including al-Qaida, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Turkistan Islamic Party, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and Jamaat Ansarullah.
According to the report, the Taliban have absorbed some former fighters from various extremist groups into local security forces, raising concerns about ideological alignment and infiltration.
The UN said advanced weapons and equipment have reached militant groups through cross-border smuggling and black markets, and noted reports of drone attacks on Pakistani military facilities.
The report added that the Taliban are seeking technical assistance to develop drone capabilities and establish what it described as a “low-cost air force.” Some countries have reported possible involvement of al-Qaida-linked envoys in the mass production of drones in Logar and Kabul.
Despite these concerns, the UN said Afghanistan’s overall security situation has become more stable compared with previous periods. However, it described the presence of terrorist groups in the country as the “primary challenge” to lasting stability.
