The Taliban’s grip on Afghanistan remains fragile as armed opposition groups continue to strike with precision, carrying out 116 attacks between January and July 2025, according to a United Nations Security Council report. The National Resistance Front (NRF) and Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) have repeatedly challenged the Taliban’s authority, exposing weaknesses in their security apparatus and governance.
The Security Council report details that the NRF claimed responsibility for 73 attacks during the first half of 2025, while the AFF conducted 43. Although the total number of attacks has declined compared to 2024 when the NRF claimed 261 and the AFF 83—experts note that these figures reflect tactical adjustments rather than a collapse of resistance.
Both the NRF and AFF emerged after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021 and have consistently targeted Taliban personnel, checkpoints, and facilities. Analysts say the persistence of these groups highlights the Taliban’s failure to consolidate authority across the country or secure key regions effectively.
Coinciding with the UN report, the AFF claimed a new attack on a Taliban checkpoint in Kunduz on Wednesday, December 17, at approximately 6:30 p.m. The assault targeted a contracted fuel tanker near Kabul Port, killing two Taliban members and wounding another, according to the group. The Taliban have not commented on the attack, underscoring their inability to manage or publicly respond to opposition operations.
Earlier, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that between February 1 and April 30, 2025, the NRF and AFF conducted a combined total of 72 attacks, with the NRF claiming 56 and the AFF 16. These attacks demonstrate the operational capability and resilience of opposition groups in challenging Taliban control.
UN experts emphasized that, while the Taliban attempt to project stability, the continuing and strategically significant attacks reveal deep vulnerabilities in their rule. Analysts assert that the presence of persistent armed resistance undermines Taliban claims of nationwide control, leaving large areas of Afghanistan exposed to ongoing insecurity.
The report underscores that despite the Taliban’s efforts to maintain dominance, armed opposition groups such as the NRF and AFF remain active, capable, and determined, highlighting the regime’s fragility and the continuing instability in Afghanistan.
