KABUL: Afghan’s Taliban government has dismissed a recent UN Security Council report alleging the establishment of new Al-Qaeda training centers in Afghanistan.
The report, released by a UNSC committee, cited intelligence from member states, stating that Al-Qaeda had set up eight training camps in Afghanistan and maintained safe houses for movement between Afghanistan and Iran. The report also said that Al-Qaeda was in a “holding pattern” in Afghanistan under Taliban support.
Reacting to the UNSC committee, Taliban chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the accusation, deeming it “false” and part of the “propaganda” propagated by the countries that backed Afghanistan’s previous pro-US administration. He insisted that there is no association with Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, and the Islamic Emirate does not permit the use of Afghan territory against others.
Al-Qaeda training centers Linked with Rising TTP Terror Activities
The UN sanctions team identified ISIS-K, a regional affiliate of Daesh, as the primary threat within Afghanistan. The report also noted an increased strength of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Pakistani Taliban operating from Afghanistan. It suggested that, possibly with support from Al-Qaeda, the TTP was able to operate from Afghan territory across borders.
The Afghan Taliban spokesperson dismissed the assessments. He referred to the US-led war, during which NATO forces were stationed in Afghanistan until the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
Mujahid urged the UN Security Council to remain neutral, expressing concerns about potential opportunistic political and economic motivations influencing its reports, which could impact its status and credibility.
Taliban spokesperson Mujahid pointed out that certain member states of the Security Council had faced defeat in Afghanistan, suggesting that they might now be disseminating animosity and unfounded rumors.
