KABUL, Afghanistan: The Afghanistan United Front (AUF), an anti-Taliban opposition group, has accused the Taliban regime of being responsible for the growth of terrorism and extremism in Afghanistan and the wider region, vowing to unite against the regime.
“Every terrorist group that poses a threat to Afghanistan, the region, and the world has either grown in the shadow of the Taliban or in their safe havens,” the group said in a statement posted on X.
“The Taliban are primarily responsible for the growth of terrorism and extremism. We are united to destroy them,” it added.
هر گروه تروریستی که تهدیدی برای افغانستان، منطقه و جهان است، یا در سایه طالبان و یا در پناهگاه های امن آن ها رشد کرده است.
طالبان مسئول درجه اول رشد تروریزم و افراطیت هستند. برای نابودی آن ها متحد هستیم. https://t.co/JBC5uE7uqk— Afghanistan United Front (@afgunitedfront) August 11, 2026
The statement comes days after the Afghanistan United Front announced the launch of “Operation Muharib”, an armed campaign against the Taliban regime led by former Afghan National Army commander Lt Gen Sami Sadat. The armed group said its military commission would direct operations against the Taliban regime and other terrorist groups.
The AUF has claimed several attacks since announcing the campaign, including operations along the Kandahar-Spin Boldak highway, in Lashkar Gah in Helmand province and in Badghis province.
The AUF says its broader objective is to end Taliban rule and restore constitutional order in Afghanistan.
Presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan
The Afghanistan United Front’s allegations come amid longstanding international concerns over the presence terrorist groups in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.
UN assessments have repeatedly identified Afghanistan as a base for a number of terrorist organisations, including banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.
A UN Security Council monitoring report in 2025 identified TTP as a major terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan and reported increased collaboration between TTP and the Afghan Taliban regime.
A separate UN Security Council assessment said the TTP terrorist group had about 6,000 fighters and was receiving support from elements within the Taliban regime.
The UN Security Council’s sanctions regime lists TTP as an al-Qaeda-associated terrorist organisation.
The US State Department’s Country Reports on Terrorism 2024 said Afghanistan remained a safe haven for al-Qaeda, al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and TTP.
The issue has also been raised at the UN Security Council. In a statement in March 2026, a UN member state urged the Taliban regime to take stronger measures against terrorist groups and stressed that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten or attack other states.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban regime of providing sanctuary and support to the TTP terrorist network, while the Taliban regime failed to avoid the use of Afghan territory for attacks against other countries.
