United Nations: Attacks Against the Taliban in Afghanistan Have Increased in the Past Three Months

The United Nations has reported an increase in attacks by armed groups opposing the Taliban in its quarterly report on the situation in Afghanistan. This report also refers to ongoing internal tensions among the current rulers of Afghanistan. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) published this assessment, stating that Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, has presented it to the Security Council. The report indicates that armed opponents have not posed a 'significant challenge' to the Taliban's control of territory since they regained power. Two groups opposing the Taliban, identified in this period as the 'Afghanistan Freedom Front' and the 'National Resistance Front,' have been conducting attacks. The UN states that both groups focused on attacking Taliban security forces in Kabul. The report mentions that the National Resistance Front has carried out 29 'confirmed attacks' in the past three months, with 20 attacks in Kabul and the rest in northern Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Freedom Front has also conducted 14 attacks, all in the capital. Ali Meysam Nazari, spokesperson for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, described the UN's assessment as 'disappointing,' claiming that the organization downplays the field, security, and other crises in Afghanistan. He stated on platform 'X' that the National Resistance Front has conducted over 160 'successful operations' in Kabul and various provinces this year, while only 29 operations were reported by the UN. The UN findings come at a time when the Taliban's media crackdown has made it very difficult for journalists to access accurate information and verify claims made by opposition groups. Taliban officials have not yet commented on the UN report. These two groups are composed of political and military officials from the Kabul government, which had international support and was ousted by the Taliban. Taliban officials have also downplayed the armed insurgencies, claiming that with public support, they have been able to restore peace to war-torn Afghanistan and maintain control over 34 provinces of the country. No country has officially recognized the Taliban leadership. The UN report also documented six attacks by ISIS-Khorasan during this three-month period, primarily targeting the Taliban. U.S. military commanders and intelligence officials have described ISIS-Khorasan as the strongest threat to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and beyond. The UN report also noted the existence of 'divergent views' regarding leadership within the Taliban. Taliban officials have denied claims of internal disputes. The UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan stated that the voices and rights of women must be prominent in the Doha meeting with the Taliban. The International Olympic Committee stated that no Taliban officials will be allowed to attend the Paris Olympics. A UN rapporteur reported that an American citizen in Taliban custody urgently needs medical services. The Taliban condemned the expulsion of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan, calling for the implementation of 'international laws.' A senior Taliban official's visit to the UAE; Sirajuddin Haqqani is on the U.S. wanted list. The Islamic Republic report on the Taliban's attempts at hostage-taking in the streets of Iran.