The links between terrorist networks operating from Afghanistan and terrorist attacks in Pakistan are growing, according to a United Nations report, which says Al-Qaeda is providing support to groups including the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
The report says that after Al-Qaeda fighters withdrew from Afghanistan in 2001, many moved into Pakistan’s tribal areas, where they were provided shelter by the TTP. Following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, ties between the two organizations have strengthened further.
According to the UN assessment, Al-Qaeda has helped enhance the TTP’s strategic, training and propaganda capabilities.
In April this year, Al-Qaeda’s media wing publicly expressed support for the TTP’s operations against Pakistan for the first time, according to the report.
US-based researcher Amira Jadoon has described the relationship between the two organizations as extending from operational assistance at the grassroots level to the integration of narratives and messaging at senior levels.
Another research consultant said Al-Qaeda had been encouraging the Pakistani Taliban since 2020 to dissolve its separate organizational structure and merge with Al-Qaeda.
Some experts believe the Afghan Taliban may also be exerting pressure in this regard. Since returning to power in 2021, the Afghan Taliban have reportedly provided various terrorist groups with shelter, accommodation and financial support.
Reports have also alleged that the Afghan Taliban issued local identity cards to individuals affiliated with the TTP, Al-Qaeda and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent. Uyghurs associated with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, also known as the Turkistan Islamic Party, were reportedly among those receiving such documentation.
The UN says Al-Qaeda’s support is not limited to the TTP and extends to other terrorist groups, including the BLA and Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan. According to the report, Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent provides Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan with training and strategic assistance.
Experts, however, note that Al-Qaeda and the TTP have different objectives and operational strategies. Despite these differences, their ideological affinity has allowed cooperation to continue in areas including media, propaganda, training and logistical support.
In December 2025, the United Nations had described Al-Qaeda as a “service provider” for terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan, saying the organization provides training, advice and logistical assistance to them.
