The Taliban’s claim that terrorist groups are not using Afghan soil to launch cross-border attacks has been disputed by the UN Security Council’s Monitoring Team in its 16th report. The report warns that countries in the region are beginning to view Afghanistan as a growing source of regional instability. Multiple member countries have informed the UN that groups such as ISIS-Khorasan, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Al-Qaeda, Turkistan Islamic Party, and Ansarullah are active in Afghanistan and planning some external attacks.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif stated that terrorism is a major concern for the country, adding that groups like ISIS-Khorasan are considered a major regional threat. The UN report highlights that TTP is a significant threat, carrying out operations from safe havens in Afghanistan. There is a divergence of opinion within the Taliban leadership on the issue, with some senior members viewing TTP’s presence as detrimental to Pakistan’s relations, while others continue to support it.
According to the report, TTP has carried out over 600 attacks in Pakistan in 2025, many of which were complex and targeted Afghan civilians. The report also commends Pakistan’s progress in countering terrorism, including the arrest of key figures such as ISIS-Khorasan spokesperson Sultan Azizuddin. The UK and European Union have imposed sanctions on Canadian-Pakistani oil tycoon Murtaza Lakhani, while London has been ranked as one of the world’s most expensive cities.
In other news, a suicide bombing in Taiwan’s capital city of Taipei has left three dead and five injured. The attack is believed to have been carried out by a supporter of the 2024 July Movement against Sheikh Hasina, following the death of its prominent leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Singapore. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that he is willing to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict, based on the principles outlined last year.
China has urged India to correct its telecom tariff policy, while Israel has accused a Russian national of espionage on behalf of Iran. US President Donald Trump has stated that the possibility of war with Venezuela cannot be ruled out, and that all options are on the table.
In a separate incident, an Australian man has been awarded AU$25 million in donations for his bravery in stopping a shooter on a Bondi Beach train. A 5.7-magnitude earthquake has struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region, while over 186 journalists have been killed in the past three years, with 93 of them being killed in 2025 alone.
For the first time in nearly 50 years, Japan will be without its twin pandas, as the last pair is set to leave the country for China next month. In a separate incident, a 52-year-old man was shot dead in a family feud in New Delhi, India. US President Donald Trump has suspended the Green Card Lottery program following two recent shooting incidents in the US.
