Claims of IS presence in Afghanistan not true: Taliban’s response to the US

The Taliban’s assertion got here after a senior US basic instructed a Senate committee {that a} unit of the Islamic State based mostly in Afghanistan will be capable of goal US residents in Europe and Asia inside six months.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 24, 2023 22:00 IST

The Taliban swept energy in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021 (Representational)

By Subodh Kumar: The Taliban on Friday refuted the claims made by a senior United States basic {that a} division of the Islamic State based mostly in Afghanistan will be capable of goal US residents in Europe and Asia inside six months.

“The statements of US officials about the number of IS in Afghanistan are not true. Daesh militants have already been reduced in ranks and suppressed,” Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban-appointed spokesperson mentioned.

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The Taliban have additionally accused the United States of abetting IS terrorists. “The interest of the US officials in this matter and their grandiosity is aiding and abetting the ISIS insurgents, which should be stopped,” Zabiullah mentioned.

Last week, General Michael Kurilla, head of US Central Command, instructed Congress that “at least hundreds of thousands” of US residents could possibly be weak to an assault by ISIS-Okay, which has the “ultimate goal to strike on the American homeland”, the Daily Mail reported.

According to experiences, ISIS-Okay — the Islamic State in Khorasan — is an IS affiliate based mostly in Afghanistan and a staunch enemy of each the Taliban and the US.

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“It is my commander’s estimate that they can do an external operation against US or Western interests abroad in under six months with little to no warning,” Kurilla mentioned.

“ISIS-Khorasan grows emboldened, seeking to expand its ranks and inspire, enable and direct attacks in the region and beyond – with the ultimate goal of striking on the American homeland,” he added.

Published On:

Mar 24, 2023