Afghanistan Peace CampaignPreviously, the U.S. State Department had also urged the Islamic Emirate to adhere to its commitments made in the fight against terrorism.
The report alleges that a growing environment for terrorist groups in Afghanistan has emerged compared to before the U.S. withdrawal from the country. The Khorasan branch of Daesh is mentioned in this report as a threat beyond the region.
The report states: “The group’s final report highlights how a terrorist incident in or emanating from Afghanistan or Pakistan could trigger a regional or international crisis, undermine U.S. alliances, and derail attention from strategic competition. To avoid such a situation, the report offers preventive, sustainable measures that preserve national security interests without taking focus away from global strategic competition.”
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul told The Washington Post, “I got a lot of briefings (about) the rise of the ISIS-K in Afghanistan. We don’t want Afghanistan to become a training ground for Al-Qaeda and ISIS-K again, but that is exactly what is happening, and it will become a threat to the homeland if we don’t pay attention to it.”
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry has spoken in a meeting about Moscow’s cooperation with Tajikistan in combating terrorism and threats, including from Afghanistan.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said: “We would like to draw attention to the high level of interaction between the relevant authorities of Russia and Tajikistan in combating the terrorist threat. The objective basis for this is our similar positions on current issues of the international anti-terrorism and anti-extremism agenda, as well as the existence of common challenges and threats, including those related to the activities of several international terrorist organizations in Afghanistan and their harmful activities in spreading extremist ideology in the countries of the region.”
Although the Islamic Emirate has not commented on the U.S. Institute of Peace’s report or the Russian Foreign Ministry, it has previously vehemently denied the presence of terrorist groups on Afghan soil.
Zalmay Afghan Yar, a political expert, told TOLOnews: “This American report is political opportunism. Afghanistan’s national interests have been targeted by America and Pakistan over the past 43 years. If they want engagement, it should be centered on preserving mutual interests.”
Previously, the U.S. State Department had also urged the Islamic Emirate to adhere to its commitments made in the fight against terrorism.