Abdul Haq Wasiq, head of Taliban intelligence, recently acknowledged that reports about the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan are part of a broader intelligence plot.
During a press conference in Kabul, Wasiq urged regional and global countries to be wary of this “dangerous” scheme, stating, “We ask regional and global countries to be aware of this dangerous intelligence plot.”
On July 10, the UN Security Council’s Sanctions Monitoring Team issued a report warning that al-Qaeda and ISIS-Khorasan remain active in Afghanistan. The report highlighted that the Taliban’s patient approach has allowed these terrorist groups to extend their reach into neighboring countries. In response, Wasiq dismissed these claims as part of an intelligence plot orchestrated by some neighboring countries. Though he refrained from naming any specific country, he asserted that international organizations base their reports on information from certain intelligence networks. Wasiq categorically denied the presence of terrorist groups within Afghanistan, asserting, “There are no centers or activities of the mentioned groups in Afghanistan, but Afghanistan is a victim of the destructive activities of some groups whose centers are located in the neighborhood and region of Afghanistan.”
Since the Taliban came to power three years ago, several senior officials have been targeted by suicide attacks. Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada has yet to appear in public, with officials repeatedly expressing concerns about security conditions. Furthermore, the sporadic drone patrols in Afghan airspace exemplify the intelligence warfare the Taliban claims to be experiencing.
