Islamic Emirate Spokesman Rejects UN Security Council Concerns on Afghanistan's Security

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, dismissed concerns raised at a recent UN Security Council meeting about Afghanistan's security situation as unfounded. He attributed the worries to the absence of Afghanistan's representative at the meeting and a failure to present documented positions and on-the-ground realities.

Mujahid specifically addressed claims of ISIS presence in Afghanistan, stating that the group has been eliminated from the country. He said: "Afghanistan’s situation must be assessed closely and realistically. Afghanistan is not present at these meetings to present concrete realities and documented progress. That is the problem. Secondly, the information some countries convey about Afghanistan is based on incorrect data or, at times, propaganda and even gross exaggeration, which appears to be an attempt to portray Afghanistan as unstable."

The UN Security Council meeting reviewed the global threat posed by ISIS. US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz stated that the ISIS threat in Afghanistan persists and requires a coordinated global response, noting its expansion to Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. "ISIL’s growing focus on Africa, and the resilience of its cells in Syria and Iraq, and the persistent threat from ISIL-K in Afghanistan, truly reinforces the need for our sustained, coordinated counterterrorism efforts," Waltz said.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism Alexandre Zouev warned that ISIS-Khorasan remains a serious threat in Afghanistan, the region, and beyond. UK representative Chris Elmore echoed concerns about the threat posed by ISIS-Khorasan in Afghanistan and beyond. China's Ambassador Sun Lei called on the Islamic Emirate to take decisive action against terrorist groups based in Afghanistan.

The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly assured that Afghan territory will not be used against other countries and that it will not allow such actions.