The American research organisation ACLED has warned in a new report that the presence of jihadist groups, particularly ISIS and Al-Qaeda, in Afghanistan continues to threaten the country’s internal security and the stability of the region.

According to the report, published on Friday, November 6, the threat posed by armed groups in Afghanistan has both domestic and cross-border dimensions, with ISIS considered the biggest internal threat and Al-Qaeda posing a threat beyond Afghanistan’s borders.

The organisation added that Al-Qaeda is using the existing operational environment in Afghanistan to maintain and expand its activities in regional countries.

However, ACLED says security pressure from the Taliban and neighbouring countries has significantly reduced ISIS’s operational capabilities.

According to figures in the report, the number of violent incidents linked to ISIS in the first nine months of 2026 fell to four, compared with 15 incidents recorded during the same period in 2025.