Afghanistan Peace CampaignThe US National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby, referring to the attack on the acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation in Kabul, that the US had previously identified ISIS threats in Afghanistan.
Kirby said that the United States has maintained and improved its remote counterterrorism capabilities even after withdrawing from Afghanistan.
John Kirby said: “Since our withdrawal from Afghanistan, the ability to conduct over-the-horizon counterterrorism operations anywhere in the world and we’ve proven our ability to do that including in places like Afghanistan since we left.”
The previous day, during the funeral ceremony of Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, in Paktia province, acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said that, based on findings from security agencies, six recent attacks in Afghanistan were planned outside the country.
Without naming any specific country, Muttaqi called on those nations to refrain from providing safe havens to terrorists.
The acting foreign minister said: “According to the Islamic Emirate’s investigation, six out of seven attacks were planned outside Afghanistan. Investigations are ongoing to determine the origin of this attack as well. We call on all countries to neither overlook such cruel individuals nor provide them shelter.”
Additionally, the Japanese Embassy in Kabul condemned the attack on the acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation and emphasized the need to halt such incidents.
A statement from the Japanese Embassy in Kabul read: “We condemn the heinous attack in the de facto Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation on Dec 11, which resulted in the Acting Minister for Refugee and Repatriation and several others killed and wounded. We express condolences to the victims and the families of those who have been affected. This kind of attacks of terror must cease immediately.”
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denounced all acts of violence and terrorism aimed at destabilization.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ statement said: “The UAE expresses its strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of international law.”
“Such incidents happen in other countries as well, such as the Moscow incident or the event in Zahedan, Iran. However, it remains imperative for the Islamic Emirate, whose achievements include maintaining security, to take this issue seriously,” Samiullah Ahmadzai, a political analyst remarked.
In Wednesday’s deadly attack on the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the acting minister, and several of his associates were targeted. The ISIS group claimed responsibility for the attack.