KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban has dismissed recent remarks made by US Congressman Bill Huizenga, who warned that Afghanistan has once again become a hub for terrorist groups under Taliban rule.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on X on Friday that the group maintains full control over Afghan territory and will not allow anyone to use it against other countries.
“We strongly reject the claim made by the U.S. House of Representatives suggesting that foreign groups are present in Afghanistan or that any threat emanates from its territory,” Mujahid said.
During a congressional hearing on Thursday, Congressman Huizenga, who chairs a subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed concerns that the threat of terrorism in the region has escalated since the US withdrawal and the Taliban’s return to power.
He argued that, despite commitments made under the Doha Agreement, Afghanistan has become a hotbed for terrorist organizations seeking to expand their operations both regionally and globally.
The congressman specifically pointed to the growing activities of Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), warning that their threat levels are now “higher than at any time in recorded history.”
He noted that although the Taliban claims to have defeated IS-KP, the group continues to launch attacks targeting civilians and Taliban members alike. He warned that IS-KP is also recruiting from diaspora communities in and beyond Central Asia.
Huizenga also highlighted the rising terrorist violence in Pakistan, attributing the instability to groups such as the TTP— which Islamabad claims is based in Afghanistan— and the Balochistan Liberation Army.
He called for a reevaluation of US counterterrorism strategies and emphasized the need for deeper regional cooperation to confront this evolving threat.
“It’s essential to assess the tools we have to continue the fight against terrorism,” he said, urging the Trump administration to explore new approaches for regional engagement that promote stability and security.
Despite the Taliban’s denials, multiple reports, including those from the United Nations, indicate that more than 20 terrorist groups are currently operating in Afghanistan.
IS-KP has emerged as the most active and capable branch of ISIS, carrying out dozens of deadly attacks in recent years, specifically targeting the Hazara-Shia community and the Taliban. The group has also claimed responsibility for cross-border attacks, including those in Russia and Iran last year.
