KABUL (SW) -Amid Praise from Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for the Islamic Emirate’s counter-terrorism efforts, the United Nations has raised concerns over threats from ISIS and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has praised the Islamic Emirate for their effective actions against terrorism and threats from groups such as ISIS in Afghanistan. However, the UN has released two detailed reports expressing concerns about the potential threats posed by “terrorist groups, particularly ISIS-Khorasan and Al-Qaeda”.
One of the UN reports, prepared by the Secretary-General and presented to the UN Security Council, and another by the UN Sanctions Monitoring Committee, claims that the threats from ISIS extend beyond Afghanistan. The reports assert that ISIS, originating from Afghanistan, poses a threat to other countries, including European nations.
The UN also alleges that ISIS has instructed its forces in Afghanistan to carry out cross-border attacks and that deep ties remain between the Islamic Emirate, Al-Qaeda, and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In response, the Islamic Emirate dismisses these UN reports as propaganda benefiting ISIS and asserts that ISIS has been eradicated from Afghanistan.
Hamdullah Fetrat, the Islamic Emirate’s deputy spokesperson, states, “The idea that ISIS could have a sustained presence in Afghanistan, set up bases, and recruit fighters is impossible. We believe that concerns about ISIS and its threat to other countries from Afghanistan are exaggerated and part of a campaign for the group.”
Some experts view these UN reports as driven by underlying grievances and aimed at pressuring the Islamic Emirate due to existing differences between the two parties.
Enayatullah Hemmat, an international relations expert, comments, “The UN has not been practical regarding Afghanistan; rather, it has had an ideological view to weaken the Islamic Emirate’s position.”
Aziz Stanekzai, a political and security affairs analyst, adds, “Richard Bennett, the UN human rights reporter in Afghanistan, prepared a biased report which the Islamic Emirate did not accept. This UN report is also reflective of these kinds of hostilities and disagreements between the UN and the Taliban.”
Experts also believe that the divergent narratives from the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization regarding the situation in Afghanistan highlight the foreign policy contradictions over the Afghan issue, raising concerns about potential consequences.
However, these experts suggest that resolving this situation requires achieving fundamental political and security stability in the country.
Inayatullah Hemmat further adds, “We hope that the problems in Afghanistan can be mitigated regionally through improved relations between the Islamic emirate government and other countries, leading Afghanistan towards progress.”
The UN’s concern over terrorist threats in Afghanistan comes despite a reduction in the activities and operations of these groups in the country over the past three years.
