The members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) voiced concerns about the presence and increased activity of the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) of Daesh in Afghanistan, reports Tolo News on August 26. Speaking at the Security Council meeting on the 17th report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by Daesh, UN counter-terrorism chief Vladimir Voronkov said that the situation in Afghanistan is growing increasingly complex and that some 20 different terrorist groups are present in Afghanistan. "The situation in Afghanistan is growing increasingly complex, with fears of weapons and ammunition falling into the hands of terrorists now materializing." The in-country operational capabilities of Da’esh’s so-called Khorasan province, sanctioned as ISIL-K, have reportedly increased, with the group becoming more sophisticated in its attacks against the Taliban and international targets. Moreover, the presence and activity of some 20 different terrorist groups in the country, combined with the repressive measures put in place by the Taliban de facto authorities, the absence of sustainable development, and a dire humanitarian situation, pose significant challenges for the region and beyond," Voronkov noted.
Also, the US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in the meeting that Afghanistan must deny safe haven to terrorist groups, including al-Qaida and ISIS-Khorasan. "And I want to reiterate that capable law enforcement and broader security service responses are essential to preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism. In South Asia, Afghanistan must deny safe haven to terrorist groups, including al-Qaida and ISIS-Khorasan, which continue to harbour ambitions to carry out attacks and have claimed deadly attacks in both Afghanistan and Pakistan," US Ambassador Linda said in the UN Security Council meeting.
However, Bilal Karimi, spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, in response to the statements of the members of this council, said that Daesh is not present in Afghanistan. "We don't have a Daesh that has a physical presence, a fixed location, or concrete activities, and Daesh has been defeated in Afghanistan," Karimi noted. According to the statement, the Daesh groups in Iraq and Afghanistan have been assessed by member states as the most serious terrorist threat in Afghanistan and the region. "The report says that Daesh Khorasan has increased its operational capabilities inside Afghanistan, with the total number of fighters and family members associated with the group estimated at 4,000 to 6,000 people, a steady increase over the numbers reported in previous reports, while also becoming more sophisticated in its attacks against both the Taliban and international targets," the statement said.