RASC News Agency: Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, has issued a grave warning that another 9/11-style attack could potentially originate from Afghanistan under the Taliban’s control. “The Express Tribune” reports that Durrani voiced Pakistan’s deep concerns over Afghanistan’s diminishing presence on the global stage, overshadowed by the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
According to these international media reports, Durrani stated, “Afghanistan has nearly been forgotten. There is no doubt about it, and this was underscored during the third Doha meeting in June.” He further remarked on the shifting priorities of international actors following the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, observing that “Afghanistan is no longer in the headlines. It’s even absent from the internal discourse within Afghanistan.” Speaking at a session at Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Durrani warned, “I fear this situation could return Afghanistan to the conditions that existed before 9/11, potentially leading to another catastrophic event like 9/11.”
The Special Envoy emphasized that 97% of Afghanistan’s population currently lives below the poverty line, with 52% dependent on international humanitarian aid. He also raised alarms about the growing presence of various terrorist groups, particularly ISIS-Khorasan, which poses a significant threat not only to the region but globally. “My concern is that ISIS is gaining strength within Afghanistan, and this should be a cause for alarm for everyone, both in the region and beyond, given their attacks in Iran, Moscow, and within Pakistan. If such incidents can happen here, they can happen anywhere.”
These concerns are raised as, under the Taliban’s regime, not only is ISIS expanding, but hundreds of other terrorist groups are operating under the Taliban’s banner. These groups enjoy comprehensive support from a regime that poses an escalating threat not only to Afghanistan and the region but to the entire world.
