Statement Regarding Transfer of ISIS Leaders To Afghanistan Not True, Says Taliban

Two days after Iran’s foreign minister claimed that ISIS leaders had transferred to Afghanistan from Syria, Libya, and Iraq, the Taliban’s foreign ministry rejected the statement and said that the reports about such transfers are not true.

The Taliban’s foreign ministry added that Iran should focus on constructive relations with the group and stressed that Tehran should avoid releasing alarming statements.

In a statement on Saturday, the Taliban's Foreign Ministry stressed, "If Iran has information about the transfer of ISIS members to Afghanistan, we hope that they provide us with that information so the Afghan security forces can act upon them."

The Taliban’s foreign ministry stressed that countries should fulfil their international obligations regarding the security of their borders.

The Taliban said that it will not allow anyone to threaten Afghanistan's security or use its territory "against others”.

In the statement, the Taliban’s foreign ministry emphasised that the group has fought ISIS before and after taking control of Afghanistan.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that ISIS leaders have been transferred to Afghanistan from Iraq, Syria, and Libya in recent months. This Iranian official called the transfer of ISIS leaders to Afghanistan one of the challenges of the Taliban.

Taliban officials have repeatedly denied the presence and ability of terrorist groups, including the ISIS, in Afghanistan.

However, a number of countries, especially in Central Asia, have continuously expressed concern about the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan.