RASC News Agency: The United States Department of Defense (Pentagon) has asserted that, contrary to the Taliban’s claims of ISIS’s complete eradication in Afghanistan, several other terrorist organizations remain active in the country. General Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesperson, disclosed in a press briefing late on Tuesday, Aug 27, that meticulous surveillance in the region is ongoing for this reason.
The American official stated, “We are closely and comprehensively monitoring ISIS.” The Pentagon spokesperson underscored that the threat posed by terrorist groups such as ISIS cannot be disregarded. In response to a query regarding the distinctions between the Taliban and ISIS, he noted, “The Taliban currently governs Afghanistan, and I use this term informally. Thus, as the governing entity, there is a distinct difference between them and ISIS-Khorasan. However, other terrorist groups are also presently operating in Afghanistan. Therefore, we continue to monitor the region in its entirety.”
This comes as Qari Fasihuddin Fetrat, the head of the Taliban’s General Staff, denies the physical presence of ISIS in Afghanistan. Previously, ISIS has attacked Taliban forces in various regions of Afghanistan, resulting in numerous casualties. The group has also claimed responsibility for several explosions in different areas, particularly in Kabul.
Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are two other terrorist organizations active in Afghanistan, continuing their operations from within the country. Recently, the United States has also confirmed that multiple terrorist groups are operational in Afghanistan.
