Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid has firmly denied the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, responding to security concerns raised by Kamchybek Tashiev, chief of Kyrgyzstan’s National Security Committee. Tashiev had pointed to a concentration of terrorists in Afghanistan’s northern provinces as a significant threat.
Mujahid assured that Afghanistan poses no threat to other nations, reiterating that the Taliban’s policies prevent the country from being used as a base for external attacks. These statements come amidst mounting international scrutiny and analysis, with publications like Modern Diplomacy describing Afghanistan under Taliban rule as a hub for regional terrorism.
Modern Diplomacy attributes this situation to the interference and competing interests of foreign powers such as the U.S., Pakistan, Iran, and Russia. The magazine also highlighted allegations of the Pakistani military’s support for certain Taliban factions to counter India’s influence, further complicating the security landscape.
“The competition among regional and global actors is one of the main factors strengthening terrorism in Afghanistan. Until effective mechanisms and strategies are in place with the cooperation of countries opposed to terrorism, the threats from these groups will persist,” stated Mohammad Radmanesh, a military expert.
The Afghan population shares these concerns. Mahjabin, a resident of Kabul, voiced fears that poverty and unemployment are driving young people to join extremist groups like Daesh. “Poverty and destitution force our young people to join Daesh. The situation is not good, and Afghanistan will be destroyed,” she said.
In a previous warning, the U.S. Institute of Peace identified 23 active terrorist groups in Afghanistan, including al-Qaeda, Daesh, the East Turkestan Movement, the Tajik Taliban Movement, and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The Taliban’s reassurances are met with skepticism as the international community calls for robust mechanisms to address the ongoing security threats in the region.
