The Islamic Emirate on Monday rejected a report by the United Nations Security Council Monitoring Team which said that following the political change in Afghanistan, foreign insurgent groups enjoy greater freedom in the country.
“There are no recent signs that the Taliban has taken steps to limit the activities of foreign terrorist fighters in the country. On the contrary, terrorist groups enjoy greater freedom there than at any time in recent history. However, Member States have not reported significant new movements of foreign terrorist fighters to Afghanistan,” the report reads.
The report questioned the Islamic Emirate’s commitment under the Doha Agreement to preventing “international terrorist” threats from having a foothold in Afghanistan. The UNSC Monitoring Team expressed concerns that foreign groups might find safe haven in Afghanistan.
According to the report, Osama Bin Laden’s son visited Afghanistan late last year. “One Member State reported that Bin Laden’s son, Abdallah, visited Afghanistan in October for meetings with the Taliban.”
Reacting to the report, the Islamic Emirate said the report lacks evidence. “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly rejects recent report by the UNSC Monitoring Team asserting an increase of foreign groups in Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate deems such reports lacking evidence, documents and addresses neither in the interest of Afghanistan, the region or the world,” the Islamic Emirate’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The statement said the Islamic Emirate has implemented its commitments laid out in the Doha Agreement and does not allow anyone to threaten any country from Afghanistan’s territory. The statement said the Islamic Emirate will play a positive role toward security in Afghanistan, the region and the world.
“The UNSC Monitoring Team’s reports which says foreign group’s presence and activities have increased in Afghanistan, is untrue,” Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesman of the foreign ministry said.
According to the UNSC report, Amin Muhammad ul-Haq Saam Khan, who coordinated security for Osama Bin Laden, returned to his home in Afghanistan in late August last year.
Regarding the report’s allegations, “no visit and no meeting between anyone happened,” said Islamic Emirate’s Deputy Spokesman Bilal Karimi.
“The economic and political instability in Afghanistan will pave the way for activities of terrorist groups inside and outside of Afghanistan,” said Hikmatullah, a political analyst.
“Serious revisions should be made to such reports. Allegations that can shock the people of Afghanistan and world should be prevented,” said Abdul Ghafar, a political analyst.
The report warns that Afghanistan has the potential of becoming a safe haven for al-Qaida and a number of ‘terror groups’ with ties to the Central Asia region and beyond.
