Michael Kurilla, the commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that ISIS is stronger today in Afghanistan than last year following the withdrawal of US forces in August 2021.
While speaking to the members of the Armed Forces Committee of the US House of Representatives on Thursday, Kurilla stressed that ISIS (Daesh) fighters have expanded their domain of operation and have become stronger in Afghanistan.
The global organization has an office called the”Al-Siddiq” which is in charge of all ISIS operations in countries including Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Indonesia – having close contact with the group’s leadership, according to General Kurilla.
In response to the US general’s remarks, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the presence of ISIS militants in Afghanistan. Mujahid said that ISIS fighters have been suppressed and targeted across the country. They will not have a chance to excel under the Islamic Emirate regime.
Mujahid further added that the American commander’s remarks are in fact a campaign in favor of the ISIS militants, which must be stopped.
Previously, General Kurilla has warned that within the next six months, ISIS in Afghanistan will have the potential to target the US and other Western countries’ interests. He further added that the militant group’s ability to conduct operations in Asia and Europe is rapidly expanding.
According to the assessment of the US General who addressed the US senate, ISIS will not be able to carry out terrorist attacks on the American mainland in the near future. However, he said that hundreds of American citizens abroad are vulnerable to attacks by the group.
General Kurilla further added that “They use Iranian proxies – that is either Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or rockets – to be able to attack our forces in Iraq or Syria.”
