Mujahid Confirms Taliban's Cooperation With Foreign Countries In Fight Against ISIS
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the group is cooperating with some foreign countries in the fight against ISIS-K.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the group is cooperating with some foreign countries in the fight against ISIS-K.
"We are cooperating with some countries and sometimes we share information with them," Mujahid added.
According to AFP, a 2023 UN Security Council report stated that the Taliban has secretly asked for intelligence and logistical support to counter ISIS.
According to the report, the Taliban has presented themselves as "a counter-terrorism partner". Following the withdrawal of US-led forces from Afghanistan, the Taliban has declared security as their highest priority.
Despite the possession of military equipment left over from the United States, analysts are sceptical of the Taliban's ability to fully counter ISIS due to information technology limitations.
American analyst Aaron Zelin has emphasised that between March 2023 and March 2024, ISIS was able to plan 21 international attacks in nine countries, indicating an increase in the group's threats compared to the previous year.
In recent months, ISIS has claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in Afghanistan, Russia and Iran.
General Michael Kurilla, the commander of US forces in the Middle East, has also warned that ISIS in Afghanistan could target US and other Western interests.
Speaking at the Moscow Format Conference, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban's foreign minister said that ISIS has been able to establish equipment and training centres outside Afghanistan's borders, and this incident has caused concern for the Taliban.
Muttaqi called on the countries of the region not to allow ISIS to recruit their nationals and send them to Afghanistan and other countries for destructive purposes.
The Taliban official claimed that most of ISIS' attacks in Afghanistan are carried out by foreign nationals.
Taliban officials have repeatedly claimed that ISIS does not exist in Afghanistan. Yet ISIS-K continues to claim responsibility for deadly attacks in Afghanistan.
The Taliban's foreign minister headed a delegation to Moscow and participated in the sixth meeting of the Moscow Consultative Format.
Although Russia recognises the Taliban as a terrorist group, it has diplomatic relations with the group.
The Taliban's foreign minister said at the Moscow consultative format meeting that the group expects the level of diplomatic relations with Russia to increase.
Ahead of Amir Khan Muttaqi's speech, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the Moscow Consultative Format meeting that various terrorist groups are still present in Afghanistan and carry out attacks outside the country. At the same time, he called for assistance to Afghanistan in the fight against terrorism.
Meanwhile, the head of Russia's security agency, Alexander Bortnikov, spoke at a meeting of the heads of the security and intelligence services of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Bishkek on Friday about the terrorist threats from Afghanistan. He also said that in order to fight ISIS-K and other jihadist groups based in Afghanistan, it is better to communicate with the Taliban.
However, Muttaqi called the claims of officials of regional countries about the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan "incorrect" and asked them not to look at Afghanistan through the lens of "foreigners”.
Alexander Bortnikov, the head of Russia's federal security services announced that the country is "completing the review" of removing the Taliban from the list of terrorist groups.
Bortnikov said that it would be better to reach out to the Taliban to fight ISIS-K and other jihadist groups based in Afghanistan.
This comes as Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko announced about two weeks ago that the process of removing the Taliban from the list of terrorist groups "will not be fast”. "The removal of the Taliban from Russia's list of terrorist groups requires changes in the country's laws," he had said.
In an interview with RIA Novosti, Russia's state-run news agency, Andrey Rudenko clarified that the process is not fast because it requires changes in the Russian law.
Zamir Kabulov, Russia's special representative for Afghanistan, announced in June 2024 that the proposal to remove the Taliban's name from the list of terrorist organisations in Russia has been communicated to Vladimir Putin for a final decision. He said that there are still issues related to the Taliban and that a decision will be made after these issues are resolved.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also told reporters during a visit to Tashkent on May 29, 2024, that establishing relations with the Taliban is another question, but we must communicate with them somehow.
Putin also mentioned consultations with regional partners, including Central Asian countries, on relations with the Taliban, saying, "We take into account the views of each of our partners and friends and will coordinate on this issue."
Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Friday (October 4) that Alexander Bortnikov spoke about Afghanistan and the Taliban at a meeting of the heads of the security and intelligence services of the CIS countries in Bishkek. At the meeting, he emphasised on the cooperation between the security agencies of the participating countries.
Referring to the recent terrorist attack at Moscow's Crocus Hall, Alexander Bortnikov said that ISIS-K is a threat to Russia and the countries of the region. "It is known with certainty that the perpetrators of this terrorist attack were members of Khorasan Province and were purposefully operating among Tajik migrants in Russia via the internet while they were physically in Afghanistan," he added.
The Russian Foreign Minister said on Friday at the Moscow format meeting that the United States and its allies are trying to take control of the process of resolving the Afghan crisis.
Sergey Lavrov called on his allies to be vigilant about the fact that the United States wants to use the United Nations for this purpose.
"In this regard, I want to be vigilant against the efforts of the United States and its allies to involve themselves in the settlement processes in order to control them, including using the authority of the United Nations for these nefarious purposes," he added.
Lavrov said that Afghanistan still has numerous problems and that Russia is working steadily to solve these problems. The Russian diplomat said that for this purpose, the country is developing the Moscow format and the mechanisms of meetings of neighbouring countries.
"We are convinced that these regional mechanisms can achieve the most important results by combining their efforts," Lavrov stressed.
Various terrorist groups in Afghanistan
In another part of his speech, the Russian Foreign Minister said that various terrorist groups are still present in Afghanistan and carry out attacks outside the country.
At the same time, he called for assistance to Afghanistan in the fight against terrorism.
Emphasis on continuing talks
Sergey Lavrov added, "Moscow is in favour of pragmatic dialogue with Kabul.”
The Russian Foreign Minister explained: "We believe that pragmatic dialogue with the Taliban should be maintained as constructive interaction with Afghan partners will secure the security interests and economic development of the region, as well as the goals of intra-Afghan national coordination."
He also said that Russia supports the Taliban's actions to stop terrorist threats in the region.
The 6th Moscow Format Meeting on Afghanistan began on Friday morning, October 4. Representatives of Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the Taliban are attending the meeting. The main part of the meeting will be held behind closed doors.
A joint statement is expected to be issued after the meeting.
The donor meeting for Afghanistan hosted by the United Nations began on Thursday, October 3, in Dubai.
In this meeting, domestic and international institutions and political representatives of countries discussed assistance to Afghanistan under the control of the Taliban, which is facing a severe humanitarian crisis.
Participants discussed how to provide assistance to Afghanistan and reaffirmed their commitment to continuing humanitarian support to the Afghan people.
Participants reviewed monitoring mechanisms and emphasised on the need for transparency in aid delivery.
They also stated that Afghanistan remains at the centre of the strategy of donor organisations and countries.
However, participants stressed that "it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to create conditions in which Afghans can make ends meet through employment rather than continued dependence on international aid”.
The meeting also discussed the challenges arising from the Taliban's new restrictions under the "Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" law. The law imposes severe restrictions, especially on women.
According to the United Nations, Afghanistan is facing one of the biggest humanitarian crises. At least 23 million people in the country are in need of humanitarian assistance. However, there are concerns about the reduction of this aid.
Some countries and international organisations have also expressed concern that the Taliban may misuse humanitarian aid.
Karen Decker, Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy for Afghanistan, who was present at the donor meeting for Afghanistan, told the media that the United States has provided $2.3 billion in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan since the fall of the republic.
Decker also noted that the results of the work of the two economic and drug groups "Doha III" will be reviewed by the United Nations soon, and the next major meeting in Doha will be held.
Karen Decker, Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Kabul, was introduced as the person responsible for advancing the country's foreign policy for Afghanistan. Decker explained her priorities during a meeting with Afghan media editors on Thursday, October 3.
Decker said that the US policy toward Afghanistan will not change with the departure of Special Representative Tom West.
Tom West, the US special representative for Afghanistan, stepped down this week after three years. The US State Department has announced that West will continue to work on the State Department's sanctions department.
"I have been asked to take on the responsibilities of the US special envoy for Afghanistan," Decker told reporters at Thursday's meeting.
In response to a question from Afghanistan International, Decker explained her priorities, "The future of Afghanistan should be determined by the Afghans themselves and through a process in their hands."
"It is my great responsibility to be the voice of Afghans who have been deprived of their right to expression," the US diplomat added.
She also said that the United States will continue to engage with the Taliban administration in a practical and principled manner.
She praised the three-year mission of Tom West, adding that addressing the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has been one of West's achievements.
Decker added that since the fall of the previous Afghan government, the United States has provided $2.3 billion in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
In another part of her speech, Decker told Afghanistan International that Washington will not participate in next week's Moscow meeting. She said that there are many regional meetings on Afghanistan that the United States does not have to participate in all of them, but she will follow these talks.