Lithuanian threat assessment warns ISIS-K in Afghanistan seeks recruits from Europe

Lithuania's National Threat Assessment for 2026 states that the terrorism threat in Europe remains high, with the Khorasan branch of ISIS, based in Afghanistan, attempting to recruit among Central Asian diaspora communities in Europe.

The 87-page document, published by Lithuania's Ministry of National Defense and State Security Department on its website, describes Afghanistan as a genuine source of international security threats to various countries, including those in Europe. It warns of easy access to ISIS propaganda materials online for recruitment purposes.

The assessment notes that increased migration from Central Asia to Lithuania has led to the identification of individuals with extremist views or terrorism links within these communities. It further states that the availability of Islamist propaganda on the internet raises the risk of radicalized individuals in Lithuania carrying out terrorist attacks.

Although the short-term probability of Lithuania becoming a target of Islamist terrorist attacks is rated low, the document highlights the potential for resident radicals to spread propaganda, form groups supporting extremist ideologies, and finance terrorist organizations.

Lithuania, a small Eastern European country sharing a southwestern border with Russia, issued this evaluation amid concerns over regional migration and online radicalization.