The United States Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has expressed concern in its 66th report to the U.S. Congress regarding the activities of ISIS, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.
SIGAR notes that terrorist groups continue to operate within the country, with Daesh presenting a “significant threat” to both Afghanistan and regional stability.
However, Hamdullah Fetrat, deputy spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, rejects the report, asserting that “no foreign groups” are present in Afghanistan and that the issue of ISIS in the country has been exaggerated, with no serious threat posed. He says that ISIS emerged following the entry of foreign NATO-led forces into Afghanistan, but its operational capacity has since been weakened by the intelligence and security forces of the Islamic Emirate.
Fetrat added, “No foreign group is present in Afghanistan. ISIS, which had captured areas after the foreign occupation, has remained in Afghanistan since then. However, the Islamic Emirate forces have subdued them, and their power has been eliminated. If some ISIS-affiliated individuals are still secretly active, their movements are neutralized by our intelligence and security forces.”
The SIGAR report highlighted that ISIS claimed responsibility for 60 attacks in Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Pakistan, and Turkey last year. Additionally, the report’s findings show a 40% increase in ISIS attacks in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Ahmad Khan Andar, a political analyst, emphasized the need for global and regional cooperation in “intelligence and security” to combat terrorist groups and address concerns.
“The best way to fight terrorist groups is for world and regional powers to coordinate and have a joint strategy against these groups. The world should also acknowledge that the roots of ISIS lie beyond Afghanistan’s borders.”
On the other hand, Mohammad Sadeq Shinwari, a military analyst, responded to the SIGAR report by stating that such reports are more politically motivated and propagandistic. He added that to alleviate security concerns in Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate should hold meetings with other countries.
Previously, the United Nations and several neighboring and regional countries have expressed concerns about the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan. However, the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly emphasized that it does not allow any individual or group to operate within Afghanistan’s borders or threaten the interests of other countries.
