WASHINGTON, UNITED STATED – The US Department of State’s spokesperson, Matthew Miller, says the US has long been concerned about the capability of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-KP) and its potential for terrorist activities. He emphasizes the importance of remaining “vigilant” against this threat.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, March 26, Mr. Miller, when asked about IS-KP’s recent attack in Kandahar, Iran, and Moscow, said that his country is working with its allies and partners to address the threat.
He further said that the US had indeed issued warnings to both Moscow and Tehran regarding the recent attacks claimed by ISIS in Moscow and Iran’s Kerman.
Mr. Miller emphasized that concerning Afghanistan, the US consistently stressed the importance of preventing the country from becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups aiming to harm the US and its allies.
“We have demonstrated a commitment to hold terrorists in Afghanistan accountable,” he said. “But we have also made clear to the Taliban that it is in their interest to counter violent terrorist groups inside Afghanistan,” he added.
The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has heightened security concerns among neighboring countries and the global community. These concerns stem from the potential resurgence of terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS-K, all of which pose a significant threat to global stability.
The world is increasingly alarmed by the escalating threat posed by ISIS, particularly after its deadly attack in Moscow, which claimed over 130 lives, and its attack on the Taliban stronghold in Kandahar, resulting in the deaths of more than 20 Taliban members.
In a report last month, the member states of the UN Security Council said that terrorist groups in Afghanistan enjoy greater freedom than ever before in recent history. The report also said that there are no recent indications that the Taliban has taken measures to restrict the activities of these terrorist groups in the country.
Last month, General Michael E. Kurilla, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief, criticized the Taliban for harboring extremist groups in Afghanistan, warning that the presence of these groups in the country could destabilize the region and the entire world.
Two days earlier, US Senator Lindsey Graham proposed launching attacks on IS-KP targets in Afghanistan to disrupt its operations before it’s too late. Prior to this, Senator Marco Rubio also warned about the capabilities of IS-KP, emphasizing that it could potentially launch attacks on US soil.
Senator Rubio stated that the Moscow attack clearly indicates that ISIS has managed to re-establish its operations in Afghanistan following the US military withdrawal from the country and the Taliban’s takeover.
“Once we leave Afghanistan and we’re no longer there to conduct regular strikes, they can now operate openly. No matter how much the Taliban wants to take them on, they can’t. They don’t have the capability to do it,” Mr. Rubio said, adding that Islamic State has now “found a place to operate from” and is likely looking for more “real estate” where they can organize and plot attacks.
The regime in power in Afghanistan, however, claims that there is no active terrorist group in Afghanistan and they have dismantled ISIS in the country. They also claim that they would not allow the territory of Afghanistan to be used against other countries.
