The question that arises is that if the Afghan Taliban criticize the arrest of ISL’s terrorists Sharifullah, alias Jafar, if they have nothing to do with it?
The arrested regional Islamic State leader belonged to Kabul Airport since the 2021 attack, killing 13 members of the US service and dozens of Afghan civilians. President Donald Trump had a significant step forward during the state’s efforts to seize the alleged mastermind behind the Abbey bombing during the state union. It indicated a potential future for better counter -terrorism cooperation between the United States and Pakistan.
Surprisingly, Afghanistan’s Intelligence Agency, the General Directorate of Intelligence, reacted negatively to the arrest, and rejecting Sharifullah as a ‘lower -level operative’. To strengthen his position, the GDI alleged that ‘IS-K has to stay safe in Pakistan’. He accused the establishment of a Pakistani to organize operations to strengthen relations with the new US administration.
However, the GDI failed to admit that the person arrested by Pakistan was an Afghan citizen who was previously detained by the Ashraf Ghani government, but the Taliban released it when the latter controlled Kabul on August 15, 2021.
Although media outlets investigate details of the arrest and the history of the Abbey bombing, the defense response from the Afghan interim government after Trump’s praise shows that the Taliban feel neglected. His reaction is also a concern that the United States may take punishment against the Taliban government for allegedly providing asylum to ISK and al -Qaeda terrorists.
In particular, the withdrawal of US military forces immediately. Later, al -Qaeda leader Elizahiri al -Zawahiri was killed in a US drone strike in Kabul’s safe zone near the Taliban’s minister’s residence. The incident indicated that the Taliban had no full control over state affairs despite their political occupation.
Afghanistan has been a battlefield for more than four decades to dominate different factions. The Taliban themselves emerged from internal conflicts in mujahideen groups. Similarly, they cannot claim absolute authority over the country, especially when ethnic and religious minorities face violence in various Afghan cities, mainly by ISK.
The Taliban will have to remind them of their responsibility to capture and hold the terrorists accountable.
Whenever terrorist groups or its workers are neutralized, the Taliban’s shame is understandable. Perhaps the Taliban leadership considers such incidents a negative reflection of their principle. However, the Taliban should not forget that they are under the auspices of the UN Security Council’s 1988 sanctions committee, which implement a weapons restriction, travel restrictions and assets. These restrictions will remain unless the Security Council is decided.
The Taliban’s hesitation in recognizing the ISK and al-Qaeda’s presence in Afghanistan is from their ‘victory rhetoric’. Recognizing that the terrorists work on their borders will be damaged. However, they cannot deny that the IS-Bajur, Kerman and Moscow were responsible for the recent terrorist attacks.
In addition, under UNSC Resolution 2513Following the Doha agreements, it was adopted on March 10, 2020, obliged to comply with the Taliban’s UN directive, including measures against terrorist agencies operating from the Afghan territory. The Taliban will have to remind them of their responsibility to capture and hold the terrorists accountable.
In addition, the Taliban are bound by the Doha agreement to not allow the Afghan territory to be used for terrorism. Therefore, controlling the TTP activities is the only responsibility of the Taliban authorities. The Taliban government should not forget that the TTP was included in the sanctions list on July 29, 2011. UNSC Resolution 1989 For its affiliation with al -Qaeda, including its financing, planning and terrorist activities, it is involved. If TTP cadres roam Afghanistan, including capital without check, this is equivalent to being associated with a designated terrorist group.
After all, the Taliban cannot refrain from their responsibilities under international law. As long as they fail to resolve terrorism effectively, they will remain under scrutiny by the international community.
The Taliban government should come out of refusal to address global concerns about terrorism. This would be possible if the Taliban government had owned its responsibilities under the UN Charter and fulfilled the responsibilities set in UNSC resolutions. Faced with the Taliban’s rulers in fulfilling their international responsibilities, it is most important for the Taliban to seek international support from their territory to end terrorist organizations.
First, the Taliban government will have to adopt an effective counter -terrorism strategy. The Taliban government will have to set up a dedicated task force to neutralize terrorist networks. Improve intelligence sharing mechanisms with regional and international partners. And increased border security to prevent terrorist movement in Afghan borders.
Second, the Taliban government will have to launch a target operation against the leading terrorist hideout. Stop providing inactive or active support to groups like TTP and IS. And refuse the militants to access financial, logistics and recruitment channels.
Third, it will have to comply with UNSC resolutions, including the resolution 2513 and the Doha agreement. Cooperate with international agencies like the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force to prevent terrorism. Cooperate with neighboring countries such as Pakistan, China, Iran and Central Asian states to tackle cross -border terrorism. And take part in regional counter -terrorism measures such as Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Fourth, the Taliban government will have to end any ideological or logistical relations with al -Qaeda, TTP, atom and ISK. Eliminate foreign militants using Afghan soil to plan attacks on other countries, and show a clear stand against terrorism to seek international justification.
Hopefully, Sharifullah’s arrest and prosecution will be alarmed to come out of the Taliban leadership to come out of their denial, and instead of being involved in accusation sports, they will become a partner in counter -terrorism efforts.
The author is a former special representative of Pakistan for Afghanistan. He also served as ambassador to Iran and the United Arab Emirates. And is a senior research fellow of the Islamabad Policy Research Institute.
Dawn, appeared on March 19, 2025
