In response to the security concerns of neighboring and regional countries regarding threats emanating from Afghanistan, the United Nations Security Council has announced that it will hold a meeting this Monday, to assess the ISIS threat from Afghan territory and the wider region.
During this session, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres will present his biannual report, in which ISIS is labeled a global threat.
Meanwhile, at a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s (CSTO) defense ministers in Kazakhstan on Friday, member countries were also warned about the security risks posed by Afghanistan.
Imangali Tasmagambetov, the CSTO Secretary-General, stated that there is a risk of terrorism and drug trafficking spreading from Afghanistan to the region and member states.
In response to these concerns, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, rejects the notion that Afghanistan is a security threat, claiming that Daesh has been “suppression” in the country.
He added: “ISIS is not a threat in Afghanistan and has no strength here; in fact, it has been severely defeated and is no longer a threat. Whatever the consequences might be for the region, it is not our responsibility. But we are certain that the phenomenon of ISIS is not a danger.”
Some military experts argue that while ISIS is a global phenomenon, international organizations and security agencies have yet to collaborate practically with the Islamic Emirate to combat this group.
Mohammad Zalmay Afghanyar Popal, a military expert, believes that the upcoming United Nations meeting is primarily aimed at exerting political pressure on the Islamic Emirate de-facto government and will not yield any benefits for Afghan citizens or the fight against terrorism.
He remarked: “These meetings are part of ongoing systematic pressure. If the UN Security Council is holding a session to assess the threat posed by terrorist groups in Afghanistan, what cooperation have they provided Afghanistan in combating these groups? This meeting will likely issue another statement condemning the situation without offering any tangible results for Afghanistan.”
Motiullah Aryanpoor, a political expert, views ISIS as a transnational threat and emphasizes the need for global coordination to fight the group. He expressed hope that members of the Security Council would work with the Islamic Emirate in efforts to combat ISIS in Afghanistan.
“We hope that there will be a unified approach alongside the Afghan people, and the Islamic Emirate will cooperate in order to effectively address this global challenge, which is not limited to Afghanistan,” Aryanpoor said.
Since the rise of the Islamic Emirate, countries in the region and around the world have repeatedly expressed concerns about security threats originating from Afghanistan. However, the Islamic Emirate continues to assert that Afghanistan does not pose a threat to any other nation.
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