The Taliban have denied the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan for nearly three years. Recently, the group’s acting defense minister stated that ISIS lacks a physical presence in the country. Moreover, the acting foreign minister of the Taliban have accused three neighboring countries of supporting ISIS, marking an unprecedented move. Media associated with the Taliban have accused Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, and Tajikistan of supporting ISIS, attributing the intention of the Taliban’s foreign minister to these nations. This comes as leaders of Iran and Pakistan issued a joint statement, emphasizing that “the presence of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan poses a significant threat to regional and global security.” Yesterday, the Russian Defense Minister also underscored that Afghanistan represents the primary threat to member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). However, some Afghan citizens argue that engaging with the Taliban will impose costs on the region. They assert that distrust toward countries supporting the Taliban is on the rise.
After the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia were among the first countries to keep their embassies active in Kabul and continue to engage and cooperate with this group. These countries have continuously supported the Taliban in regional and international meetings over the past nearly three years.
Following the joint statement by the leaders of Iran and Pakistan regarding the threat of terrorist groups from Afghan soil, the Taliban have accused these two countries of supporting ISIS. According to this group, the two neighboring countries play a role in financing, training, and directing ISIS forces in Afghanistan.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of the Taliban, accused three neighboring countries of Afghanistan of supporting ISIS during the opening ceremony of the “Afghanistan-Kazakhstan International Exhibition” two days ago. He claimed, “There is no ISIS stronghold in Afghanistan, but unfortunately, our three neighboring countries, in turn… one neighboring country is preparing human resources for ISIS. We have witnessed them [ISIS] taking action in various parts of the world. Another country is on the route through which those who disrupt security pass. Another country has provided them with financial support centers and planning and programming facilities within its territory.”
The acting foreign minister of the Taliban added that if these three countries fulfill their responsibilities properly, there will be no problem in Afghanistan and the region. Although he did not name a specific country, Al Mirsaad, a media outlet affiliated with this group, has named Pakistan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Turkey as countries supporting ISIS in Afghanistan.
This Taliban-affiliated media outlet wrote in an article titled “Traitorous Neighbors” that Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of this group, referred to “the betrayal of Pakistan and Tajikistan.” Al Mirsaad claimed that these countries, with the support of the CIA, have launched this project and “seek to once again attract the world’s attention and adjust their failed policies.”
The Taliban-affiliated media, by publishing the statements of Amir Khan Muttaqi, has named Tajikistan, Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan as “active” countries in the ISIS issue. According to Al Mirsaad’s claim, Tajik citizens possess the “identity of fuel materials” for ISIS, and members of this group come to Afghanistan from other parts of the world through Iran and Turkey.
Before this Taliban claim, Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated in a joint statement in Islamabad that the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan under Taliban rule is a serious threat to regional and global security.
In their joint statement, the leaders of these two countries stated that Tehran and Islamabad are committed to the development of Afghanistan as a peaceful, united, independent, and free from terrorism and drug trafficking threats and emphasize the creation of a united front against terrorism.
These concerns arise as Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the acting defense minister of the Taliban, continues to deny the presence of ISIS, stating during a meeting with Malaysian officials in Kabul that ISIS and other “destructive” groups do not have a physical presence in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Russia considers Afghanistan under Taliban rule as the main source of threat against member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defense Minister, stated yesterday that international terrorist groups take refuge in Afghanistan due to its unstable political situation. Speaking at the meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, he emphasized that the presence and establishment of extremist groups in Afghanistan and the increase in external attacks by these groups, especially ISIS Khorasan, have created serious security concerns for the countries of Central Asia.
The Russian Defense Minister regarded the deployment of American military infrastructure in the region as a direct threat to the stability of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. He claimed that the United States is attempting to impose a new security system on the Asia-Pacific region.
Concerns of neighboring countries of Afghanistan and the region are increasing over the threat of terrorism under Taliban control, as most of these countries have been in direct engagement with this group for over two and a half years.
Some Afghan citizens criticize the continued interaction and harmony of these countries with the Taliban, stating that these countries “play both sides.” According to them, the Taliban, as a “terrorist” group, does not believe in any human values or international relations, and if given the opportunity, threatens the interests of all countries.
Ajmal (pseudonym), a Kabul resident, speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, says that regional and neighboring countries have adopted an approach towards the Taliban that will backfire on themselves. According to him, the embrace of the Taliban regime is open to all terrorist groups who have been fighting alongside them with the security forces of the previous government of Afghanistan for more than two decades, and now the country has turned into a haven for “international terrorists”.
Hussain Bakhsh, another citizen of the country, says that neighboring countries “play both sides.” He emphasizes that expecting the Taliban to fight against ISIS and other terrorist groups is futile. He insists that if these countries want to rid themselves of suicide attacks and armed opponents, they must support a “democratic and Taliban-free Afghanistan”.
It is worth mentioning that while the Taliban deny the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan, they simultaneously claim to combat this group. The Taliban have repeatedly claimed to suppress ISIS in Afghanistan. However, citizens of the country ask the Taliban that if ISIS does not exist in Afghanistan, then with what logic and language are you talking about fighting it? According to them, if ISIS does not have a physical presence, how have the Taliban suppressed it?
Despite the Taliban’s denial, the ISIS Khorasan (IS-K) has been responsible for deadly attacks in Afghanistan for nearly three years. Following ISIS attacks in Kandahar and Kabul, senior US security officials warned that within the next six months, this group will target US interests both inside and outside the country.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
تنشهای لفظی طالبان با همسایهگان؛ بیاعتمادی کشورهای حامی طالبان در حال افزایش است