The United States is exaggerating the presence of the Islamic State (Daesh) in Afghanistan, said Abdulhaq Wasiq, a member of the Taliban’s political office.
Wasiq, in reaction to the US military’s drone strike in Nangarhar against Daesh on Friday, said the United States has no right to carry out attacks in Afghanistan.
On Sunday afternoon another US airstrike targeted a vehicle carrying “multiple suicide bombers” from Daesh, US officials said.
“The world made Daesh important. Daesh will not last in Afghanistan,” Wasiq said.
According to Wasiq, the US military’s airstrikes in Afghanistan are contrary to the Doha deal signed by the United States and the Taliban.
“We have signed an agreement with Americans in Doha regarding this and the attack is against the agreement. Based on the agreement, they are not allowed to interfere in Afghanistan affairs after their withdrawal,” Wasiq added.
Wasiq’s remarks come as the United States President Joe Biden on Saturday warned that Daesh may launch attacks on the Kabul airport.
Meanwhile, a number of Afghan politicians and foreign journalists say that the recent attacks by Daesh on the Kabul airport indicate that Daesh fighters are active in Afghanistan.
“Daesh, by attacking the airport, showed that it still exists in Afghanistan,” said Tahier Khan, a Pakistani reporter.
Kabul residents, meanwhile, voiced their concerns over Daesh’s presence in Afghanistan.
“They want to show, especially to the Americans, that ‘we exist,’” said Samim, a Kabul resident.
