After implicit vindication: Conflict over Biden's statements about absence of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan
Conflict erupted in Afghanistan about the presence of
al-Qaeda in the country after US President Joe Biden's tacit vindication of the
ruling Taliban movement that the terrorist organization does not exist on its
soil, while a report issued by the United Nations Sanctions Monitoring Team
confirms that the presence of al-Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan cannot be
denied. Observers of Afghan affairs point out that with the Taliban’s return to
power in the country again, armed groups, led by al-Qaeda, are allowed to
re-establish their presence in Afghanistan.
Discrepancy
Citing the UN report, the Long War Journal revealed that,
contrary to the claims of the American president, Afghanistan is a safe haven for al-Qaeda, which has close relations
with the Taliban.
President Biden had said that, in cooperation with the
Taliban, the al-Qaeda network is no longer present in Afghanistan, claiming
that the United States requested assistance from the Taliban to eliminate the
presence of the terrorist organization in the country.
The Long War Journal showed the discrepancy surrounding
Biden's statements, confirming that the UN Sanctions Monitoring Team’s report
shows that Biden is wrong and that the presence of al-Qaeda fighters in
Afghanistan cannot be denied.
The report also revealed that a
number of senior members of al-Qaeda work in the Taliban government, having
been appointed to advisory positions and to the security and administrative
structures of the Taliban. It confirmed that Qari Ehsanullah Baryal and Hafiz
Muhammad Agha Hakeem are the Taliban governors in Kapisa and Nuristan,
respectively, while Taj Mir Jawad is the deputy head of intelligence, and all
of them are well-known jihadists who served al-Qaeda.
The United Nations estimated in its report that at least 400
al-Qaeda fighters are in Afghanistan, along with 2,000 family members.
Acknowledgment of reality
The Taliban Foreign Ministry commented on the Biden's
statements regarding the absence of armed groups in Afghanistan, considering it
an acknowledgment of reality, and that this refutes the recent report of the UN
Sanctions Monitoring Team alleging the presence and activity of more than
twenty armed groups in Afghanistan.
According to the report, the al-Qaeda network is currently
training elements of the Pakistani Taliban movement in six provinces: Helmand,
Zabul, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Badghis, and Kunar. It also manages safe havens in
the provinces of Farah, Helmand, Herat, and Kabul, in addition to a media
operations center in Herat.
Conflict inside Afghanistan
On the other hand, Ahmed Sayed Abu Salima, a researcher of
Afghan affairs, confirmed that there is a conflict within Afghanistan about US
President Joe Biden's statements that there is no al-Qaeda organization in
Afghanistan, which removes the curtain about his country's cooperation with the
Taliban and the latter's claim that it expelled the “occupier” from the country,
which its leaders have stated they are proud of, even though it is secretly
cooperating with the United States while it destroyed Afghanistan destroyed
because of al-Qaeda and now for the sake of power is standing against the
terrorist organization.
In exclusive statements to the Reference, Abu Salima
explained that the vindication only came implicitly and not in declared
statements to confirm the matter about the lack of al-Qaeda's presence in
Afghanistan; however, with the return of the movement to rule the country
again, it allows armed groups, led by al-Qaeda, to re-establish their presence
in Afghanistan.
