A United Nations Security Council (UNSC) monitoring report has raised concerns over al-Qaeda’s attempts to exploit Bangladesh to establish terrorist cells, while warning that the group’s South Asian affiliate, al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), has continued to evolve into a regional terrorist entity.
The biannual report by the UNSC’s monitoring team for sanctions on al-Qaeda and Islamic State was made public on August 10. The report said there was concern that AQIS could seek to exploit Bangladesh to establish cells. “The attack in November 2025 on the Red Fort in Delhi was officially attributed to AQIS. There was some concern about AQIS trying to exploit Bangladesh to establish cells there,” the report said.
The report noted that AQIS had “continued to evolve from a fragmented group into a regional terrorist entity” and had established logistics and financial networks, operating through decentralised, small and scattered cells rather than large units.
The development comes against the backdrop of a recent visit to Bangladesh by four members of India’s intelligence wing, Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), led by its chief Parag Jain. During the visit, the Indian delegation met Bangladesh’s Defence Adviser to the Prime Minister, Brig Gen (Retd) Dr A K Shamsul Islam, and exchanged views on possible terrorist attacks.
According to local press reports in Dhaka, security agencies subsequently launched search operations around the city and recovered large quantities of explosives. Local residents said they heard a huge explosion while security personnel were defusing the explosives, which shook the surrounding area. The following day, another bomb explosion was reported in Barishal district.
AQIS leadership based in Kabul
The UN report said the AQIS leadership reportedly remained in Kabul, having been issued tazkiras, or identification cards, by Afghan authorities. This, it said, suggested close cooperation between the Taliban and AQIS.
The report also said AQIS formed the backbone of Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), which was reportedly responsible for multiple attacks, including a suicide bombing and the detonation of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device near a security post in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on May 9. The attack resulted in 21 deaths.
The report further noted that al-Qaeda’s status and strength in Afghanistan “remained unchanged”. On April 28, al-Qaeda’s official media outlet, As-Sahab Media Foundation, published a statement supporting the Taliban and, for the first time, operations by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) against Pakistan.
“While Al-Qaida provided ideological guidance, training and support to TTP in the latter’s insurgency against Pakistan, this public statement was more direct,” the report said.
Chemical and biological weapons concern
The concerns over AQIS come months after the November 10, 2025, car bomb explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort. In May this year, the National Investigation Agency filed a chargesheet against 10 individuals in connection with the blast, naming them as accused linked to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), an affiliate of AQIS.
The blast involved a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and caused 11 fatalities, numerous injuries and significant property damage.
The UN monitoring team also warned that both al-Qaeda and Islamic State had “shown a sustained interest over many years in developing chemical and biological weapons”.
The report said both groups had continued efforts to develop such weapons but had so far failed to overcome the “associated technical challenges”.
Instructions on developing chemical and biological weapons have, however, been widely shared within online terrorist communities. In February this year, Islamic State’s English-language Invade magazine included instructions on developing botulinum toxin and cyanide.
“ISIL-K has shown a particular interest, and over the past 12 months circulated instructions on developing the toxin ricin,” the report said, referring to Islamic State-Khorasan Province, the group’s affiliate focused on South and Central Asia.
The report also noted that at the end of 2025, Indian authorities had arrested three people, including a doctor, who had allegedly been tasked by an Islamic State cell abroad with developing ricin.
Growing use of cryptocurrency
The report highlighted the “increased use of cryptocurrency by terrorist groups” and recommended that the UN explore creating a dedicated “digital currency address” field in its sanctions list, in consultation with relevant Panels of Experts, to counter the phenomenon. ISIL-K was among the groups identified as having used cryptocurrency to raise funds. The report also highlighted the threat posed by the “misuse of third parties” in terrorism financing cases and encouraged implementation of Financial Action Task Force recommendations for identifying the ultimate beneficial ownership in terrorism-related investigations.
