Amid reports, and remarks of officials from the international community including the US, Zabihullah Mujahid, the deputy minister for the Ministry of Culture and Information, on Tuesday said Al Qaida members are not in Afghanistan.
Mujahid’s remarks come as US officials repeatedly have warned of Al Qaida movement in Afghanistan and have warned that the group might become capable of threatening the United States within two years.
Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in a recent visit to India also raised his country’s concern over the possibility of Al Qaida’s presence in Afghanistan.
Mujahid said they will not allow anyone to threaten any country from Afghanistan’s territory, adding that they will uphold their commitments in this regard.
“Concerns have been raised over Al Qaida presence in Afghanistan. Such remarks are propaganda. We do not see anyone in Afghanistan belonging to Al Qaida. The Islamic Emirate has made commitments to the United States in this regard. The commitments are that we will not allow anyone to threaten anyone using Afghanistan territory,” Mujahid said.
Meanwhile, the Cultural Commission of the Culture and Information Ministry said Daesh prisoners were released from the Kabul jail before the Taliban forces arrived in Kabul.
In recent weeks, Daesh has claimed responsibility for several attacks in Kabul and Nangarhar, which have raised concerns among the people.
“It is possible that they (Daesh) gradually appear from everywhere in groups. They did (attack) in Jalalabad, the next day might be in Mazar, then in Takhar and Kandahar and eventually all of Afghanistan,” said Sayed Rahman, a Kabul resident.
Mujahid, however, referring to the recent Daesh attacks in Nangarhar, said they will be the last attacks, and thatTaliban forces will eliminate Daesh in Afghanistan.
Comment this post