Taliban dismiss UNSC concerns over terrorists’ presence in Afghanistan

Taliban dismiss UNSC concerns over terrorists’ presence in Afghanistan
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Taliban chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Friday rejected concerns raised by members of the UN Security Council over the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, calling them “baseless.”

Mujahid said claims about the presence of fighters from Daesh, al-Qaida and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were “unfounded” and aimed at portraying Afghanistan as unstable.

At a Security Council meeting Wednesday, representatives from China, Iran and Pakistan described the presence of IS, al-Qaida and TTP in Afghanistan as a serious threat to the country, the region and beyond.

A new UN report presented to the council this week estimated that IS-Khorasan has about 2,000 fighters in Afghanistan, while the TTP maintains nearly 6,000. Russia and several regional countries have also expressed alarm over the group’s activities.

Taliban insist that such groups are not operating in the country and claim IS fighters enter Afghanistan from outside.

Still, in recent years the ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan has claimed responsibility for a series of deadly bombings and attacks across the country, many targeting civilians and minorities.