Letter dated 9 May 2017 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council
I have the honour to transmit herewith the eighth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team established pursuant to resolution 1526 (2004), which was submitted to the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011), in accordance with paragraph (a) of the annex to resolution 2255 (2015).
I should be grateful if the report could be brought to the attention of the Council members and issued as a document of the Security Council.
(Signed) Kairat Umarov
Chair
Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011)
Letter dated 5 May 2017 from the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team addressed to the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011)
I have the honour to refer to paragraph (a) of the annex to resolution 2255 (2015). In that paragraph, the Security Council requested the Monitoring Team to submit, in writing, two annual comprehensive, independent reports to the Committee on implementation by Member States of the measures referred to in paragraph 1 of the resolution, including specific recommendations for improved implementation of the measures and possible new measures.
I therefore transmit to you the Monitoring Team’s eighth comprehensive report, pursuant to the above-mentioned request. The Monitoring Team notes that the original language of the report is English.
(Signed) Hans-Jakob Schindler
Coordinator
Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team established pursuant to resolution 1526 (2004)
Eighth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team submitted pursuant to resolution 2255 (2015) concerning the Taliban and other associated individuals and entities constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan
Summary
The present report provides an update on the situation in Afghanistan since the issuance of the seventh report of the Monitoring Team (S/2016/842) in October 2016. Since the selection of Haibatullah Akhundzada (not listed) as the new leader of the Taliban on 25 May 2016 (ibid., para. 1), the top leadership of the movement continues to be involved in discussions concerning the ability of Haibatullah Akhundzada to lead the movement militarily, as well as disputes concerning assets that used to be under the control of Mullah Mansour (listed as Akhtar Mohammad Mansour Shah Mohammed (TAi.011)). However, these discussions have not diminished the ability of the Taliban as a whole to exert violence inside Afghanistan. All interlocutors of the Monitoring Team expect a very challenging fighting season in Afghanistan, with the Taliban potentially threatening several provincial capitals both in the north and the south of the country. Compared with previous years and despite considerable losses during the fighting season in 2016, the fighting strength of the Taliban has not diminished, and interlocutors expect that the Taliban will be able to field significant numbers of fighters inside Afghanistan. Afghan interlocutors of the Team voiced concern regarding an increase in regional support for the Taliban.
The relationship between the Taliban and Al-Qaida, as well as Al-Qaida-affiliated groups, remains strong. Many fighters from Al-Qaida-affiliated groups, who formerly operated in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area, have integrated into the Taliban, leading to a marked increase in the military capabilities of the Taliban. Interlocutors of the Team highlighted that Taliban income from the narcotics trade increased during 2016 owing to an increase in poppy growing areas in Afghanistan as well as a marked increase in the profits generated from opium production inside the country. Illegal mining activities and systematic extortion by the Taliban continue, adding to the income of the Taliban.
Following the delisting of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar from the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida sanctions list on 3 February 2017, Hekmatyar returned to Afghanistan at the end of April 2017. However, despite several regional and international efforts, the Taliban continue to be reticent and currently do not demonstrate a willingness to enter into negotiations with the Government of Afghanistan.
During 2016, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (listed as Al-Qaida in Iraq (QDe.115)) lost a significant amount of territory inside Afghanistan, in particular in Nangarhar Province. Interlocutors of the Team highlighted that ISIL in Afghanistan continues to obtain regular financial support from ISIL-core in the Syrian Arab Republic and Iraq, and appears well equipped and funded. Despite the considerable military pressure exerted on the group by Afghan and international forces and the concentration of the majority of the group’s fighters in the east of the country, ISIL was able to conduct one high-profile attack, in Kabul city. A significant number of foreign terrorist fighters who seem to have entered the country from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area continue to operate inside Afghanistan. Interlocutors of the Team did not report high numbers of foreign terrorist fighters having returned from the Syrian Arab Republic or Iraq.