UN Warns of ISIS-K Threat in Afghanistan Armed with New Drones

Alexander Zuev, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations for Counter-Terrorism, announced an increase in the operational capacity of the ISIS-Khorasan group in Afghanistan during the Shanghai Plus security meeting in Samarkand. He stated that in addition to acquiring modern drones and training their forces to utilize this equipment, the group is also leveraging artificial intelligence to produce propaganda content in Central Asian languages.

Zuev identified the expansion of internet access, online recruitment, and internet-based communications as factors escalating security threats in Central Asian countries.

This warning comes amid multiple UN reports expressing concern over the activities of ISIS-Khorasan and the dangers posed by the group to security in Afghanistan and the surrounding region.

The Shanghai Plus experts’ meeting took place on November 5 and 6, 2026, in Samarkand, with representatives from 24 countries and five international organizations attending.