KABUL (SW): The National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar said on Thursday the number of terrorists in Afghanistan has increased three-fold in the past seven years.
Addressing a seminar in the capital Kabul, he said every fourth terrorist fighting the Afghan security forces in the country is of foreign origin. Atmar said these foreign terrorists are linked with foreign spy agencies. He added the withdrawal of a significant number of foreign troops from Afghanistan allowed a number of international terrorists and their backers to target the country.
In his remarks, the NSA further said Afghanistan has never backed the terrorists, and in fact militants, smugglers and their foreign backers have joined hands to threaten Afghanistan and regional countries.
This comes as the security agencies estimate there are up to 20 terrorist groups fighting against the Afghan forces in the country.
ENDS
