RASC News Agency: The Pentagon has affirmed its close and rigorous monitoring of the terrorist threat in Afghanistan. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense informed the media that they are keeping a vigilant watch on the activities of terrorist organizations, including ISIS, within Afghanistan and its neighboring regions. Nevertheless, Patrick Ryder conceded that threats from these groups in Afghanistan persist.
Addressing the issue, Ryder stated, “Regarding the threats emerging from Afghanistan, it is imperative to emphasize that we will maintain our vigilant surveillance. Various terrorist organizations, including ISIS, remain active in Afghanistan and its surrounding areas.” He highlighted that the United States utilizes a broad spectrum of capabilities to track the activities of these groups. Without identifying any specific nation, he added, “In partnership with our regional allies, we will continue to advance our counterterrorism efforts.”
This follows previous statements from U.S. officials acknowledging their ongoing dialogue with Pakistan concerning the fight against terrorist organizations. The United States has consistently emphasized its aerial surveillance prowess to assuage concerns from critics of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, who argue that the absence of American troops has potentially fostered an environment conducive to the resurgence of terrorist groups. It is also noteworthy that the Taliban have repeatedly expressed objections to American drone operations over Afghanistan. The group has denied the presence of terrorist organizations within the country, asserting that they do not allow any group to launch attacks against other nations.
Since the Taliban’s ascension to power in Afghanistan, there has been mounting concern about the expansion of terrorist activities, particularly by ISIS. These concerns have been significantly heightened following ISIS Khorasan’s attacks on Iran and Russia. Previously, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism stated that ISIS Khorasan has improved its financial and logistical capacities.
Some U.S. officials contend that the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan has bolstered the operational capabilities of this group while simultaneously restricting the United States’ ability to gather intelligence on terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan.
