Afghanistan Peace CampaignWhile the United Nations Security Council has once again expressed concern over threats posed by the activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate has rejected these concerns and insists that no group is allowed to use Afghan territory against other countries.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, told TOLOnews that Afghanistan is under the government’s full control and that no independent armed group is permitted to operate in the country.
Mujahid said: “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s position on this matter is very clear. Afghanistan will not allow its territory to be used against other countries. No unauthorized group is permitted to operate in Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate has full control over the entire country, and what some countries raised at the Security Council is completely incorrect. We assure everyone that no unauthorized group will be allowed to operate. ISIS has been completely suppressed in Afghanistan, and its safe havens have been eliminated.”
At the UN Security Council meeting held yesterday at the organization’s headquarters in New York, China’s representative stressed the importance of combating terrorism and called on the Afghan authorities to remain committed to their obligations in this regard.
Sun Lei, China’s representative to the UN Security Council, said: “The international community should help Afghanistan revive its economy and improve the livelihoods of its people so that the root causes that create favorable conditions for the spread of terrorism can be eliminated. China supports Central Asian countries and regional organizations, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in strengthening cooperation with Afghanistan to jointly address cross-border terrorist threats.”
Meanwhile, a number of military analysts believe that continued security and economic cooperation between Afghanistan, regional countries, and the international community could play an important role in reducing shared threats and strengthening regional stability.
Military analyst Sadiq Shinwari said: “If the international community cooperates with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in this regard, the expansion of ISIS activities across borders can be prevented.”
Another military analyst, Turyalai Zazai, said: “From Afghanistan’s side, there is no obstacle to continuing economic and security cooperation with regional countries; however, some countries in the region, due to their own political and economic objectives, are hindering the expansion of such cooperation.”
These concerns about the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan were raised during the UN Security Council meeting while, in recent months, several ISIS centers beyond the disputed Durand Line have been targeted in operations carried out by the forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.