This quarterly report submitted by the Lead Inspector General for Operation Enduring Sentinel (OES) summarizes the events that took place in Afghanistan this quarter, including the status of efforts to combat terrorist organizations, such as ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) and al-Qaeda, as well as U.S. diplomatic and humanitarian efforts related to Afghanistan.
This quarterly report describes the activities of the U.S. Government in support of OES, as well as the work of the DoD, the Department of State (State), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to further the U.S. Government’s policy goals in Afghanistan during the period of October 1 through December 31, 2023. This report also discusses the planned, ongoing, and completed oversight work conducted by the Lead IG agencies—the DoD, State, and USAID OIGs—and our partner oversight agencies.
The Taliban’s counter terrorism efforts have been somewhat successful against ISIS Khorasan (ISIS-K), but the group remains a persistent terrorist threat in Afghanistan. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacks on military and police targets in Pakistan increased in 2023. The Pakistani government—partly out of frustration with the Taliban’s inability or unwillingness to control the TTP—announced a campaign to deport approximately 1.7 million undocumented Afghan nationals living in Pakistan. The U.S. Government continued to work to relocate Afghan allies who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, under the Enduring Welcome program. The United States continued to pursue its enduring interests in Afghanistan, including holding the Taliban to its counterterrorism commitments; pressing the Taliban to respect human rights; and providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people. In October, four magnitude 6.3 earthquakes struck Afghanistan’s Herat province, resulting in at least 1,480 dead, 1,950 injured, and 131,000 displaced from their homes.
See the Full Report and Report in Brief.