US magnification of security threats in Afghanistan

A senior Pentagon official reiterated remarks made last month by US officials that ISIL was attacking Washington’s interests in Afghanistan, saying that ISIL in Afghanistan could attack the United States in the next six months, Reuters reported Tuesday night.

“The intelligence community has assessed that ISIL in Afghanistan has the capability and intent to attack the United States in the next six months,” said Deputy Secretary of Defense Colin Call.

Cal’s remarks show that the United States is trying to show increased insecurity due to the lack of a US military presence in Afghanistan, while Washington had previously made the situation insecure.

The Taliban, claiming victory in the war in Afghanistan, claim to be hostile to ISIS and have been trying to restore order since the US withdrawal.

ISIL attacks mainly target Shiites in Afghanistan and it has only been reported that a Taliban force east of Jalalabad was beheaded by the terrorist group.

“It remains unclear whether the Taliban will be able to fight ISIS effectively after the withdrawal of the United States in August,” the deputy secretary of defense told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

This is despite the fact that terrorist activities continued during the 20-year presence of the Americans.

The US military official estimated the number of ISIL members in Afghanistan at several thousand, noting: “Our assessment is that the Taliban and the Khorasan branch of ISIL are deadly enemies.” Therefore, the Taliban are very motivated to pursue the Khorasan branch of ISIS. I think their ability to do that needs to be determined.

Taliban Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mottaqi said the threat posed by ISIS members was being investigated and that Afghanistan would not become a base for attacks on other countries.