Washington Post: Al-Qaeda Has Established 8 Training Centers in Afghanistan / Islamic Emirate: ISIS Has Been Eliminated and Afghan Soil Is Not Used Against Others

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) – Kabul: In a recent report citing US intelligence officials, Western institutions, and United Nations reports, *The Washington Post* announced that the Al-Qaeda network and its affiliated branches have established at least eight training centers in Afghanistan over the last three years.

 

According to the report, Al-Qaeda has leveraged the Islamic Emirate's return to power in 2021 and the security vacuum resulting from the withdrawal of US forces to strengthen its presence and activities. A UN report described the current situation in Afghanistan as a "favorable environment" for Al-Qaeda, noting that the group has consolidated its position by utilizing safe houses and training camps across various parts of the country.

 

*The Washington Post* adds that these centers provide training in the use of weapons, explosives, and guerrilla warfare, as well as in more advanced areas such as encryption, drone operations, and the application of artificial intelligence. The report estimates Al-Qaeda's core membership at approximately 100 fighters, noting that the group currently functions more as an "advisory service" for other militant groups than as an expeditionary army. It has also been reported that armed extremist groups—including the ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) branch, a primary rival to Al-Qaeda—have established new training centers in Afghanistan; these groups are now present in at least 14 of the country's 34 provinces.

 

**Reaction of the Islamic Emirate: ISIS Has Been Eliminated**

In recent months, officials from the Islamic Emirate have repeatedly rejected international reports regarding the activities of groups such as ISIS-Khorasan and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). They have emphasized that these groups have been suppressed within Afghanistan and that no group is permitted to use Afghan soil to act against others.

 

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, previously dismissed claims made by Russian officials regarding ISIS activity in Afghanistan, stating: "We consider this claim to be incorrect. No country should be concerned about Afghanistan. No individual or group is permitted to engage in such activities. ISIS has been completely eliminated in Afghanistan, and Afghan security forces have vigorously combated it."

 

Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, also responded to international reports by declaring that ISIS has been fully suppressed and maintains no physical presence on Afghan soil. He described claims regarding the activities of armed groups as inconsistent with the realities on the ground.

 

Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, also rejected United Nations reports, emphasizing that Afghanistan poses no threat to any country and that nationwide security has been established since the Islamic Emirate came to power.

 

**Commitment Against Using Afghan Soil to Target Others**

Officials of the Islamic Emirate have repeatedly underscored their commitment to preventing Afghan territory from being used against other nations. In a message marking the fifth anniversary of the "conquest," Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund stated: "Afghan soil will never be permitted for use against others, and other nations must not engage in conspiracies against Afghanistan."

 

Zabihullah Mujahid, responding to claims made by Pakistan, emphasized: "Afghan soil is not being used against any country, and the Islamic Emirate is serious about this matter. This is a component of Afghanistan's national strategy and interests."

 

**Stance on the TTP and Regional Cooperation**

 

Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Army Chief of Staff for the Islamic Emirate, dismissed Pakistani allegations regarding the presence of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan, stating: "The TTP has no presence in Afghanistan, and the country's soil will never be utilized against any nation."

 

A high-level delegation from the Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Interior, attending an international security conference in China, reaffirmed the government's commitment to preventing the use of its territory against other nations. They called for expanded regional and international cooperation to combat insecurity, narcotics, organized crime, and smuggling. The delegation also urged the international community to cooperate with Afghanistan in areas such as alternative livelihoods, agriculture, the economy, and counter-narcotics efforts.

 

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Islamic Emirate’s Foreign Minister, had previously described the ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) group as a "shared threat" to both Afghanistan and Central Asian nations, emphasizing the necessity of joint cooperation to counter this danger.

 

According to security and international affairs analysts, the release of this report—coinciding with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks—has once again brought the issue of militant groups using Afghan soil into the global spotlight. Observers say that, given the Islamic Emirate's commitments to preventing the use of the country's territory against others, these reports could impact the course of Kabul's engagement with the international community.