Daesh will likely ramp up its attacks in Afghanistan as spring is around the corner, a top US general said.
Talking to the US the Senate Armed Services Committee, General Kenneth McKenzie, the commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), said that even though the Islamic Emirate is committed to fighting Daesh, it has found it difficult to put enough pressure on the group, and he said the Islamic Emirates efforts against Al Qaeda were “less firm.”.
However, the Islamic Emirate denied Gen. McKenzie’s remarks, reiterating its pledge to not allow any terrorists to be active in Afghanistan.
Gen. McKenzie said that the Islamic Emirate has demonstrated a commitment to taking down Daesh.
“We’re coming out of the winter; traditionally this would now begin the fighting season,” McKenzie said. “It is my expectation that ISIS attacks will ramp up in Afghanistan as we go into the summer.”
Political analysts believe that the Islamic Emirate must make plans to tackle Daesh.
“If the Islamic Emirate wants to have the ability to counter Daesh and other groups, it must have the intelligence and operational plans,” said Sadeq Shinwari, a military veteran.
The Islamic Emirate denied McKenzie’s remarks as baseless.
“There are no documents to prove these allegations. The Islamic Emirate has full control all over the country and will not allow anyone to pose insecurity in the country,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.
Earlier, the UN Security Council said in a report that the number of Daesh fighters has doubled from 2,000 to 4,000 in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Marine Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie took charge of the remaining US forces in Afghanistan during a ceremony in Kabul.
The command of the forces was handed to him from Gen. Austin S. Miller who served in the post since 2018.
Addressing the ceremony, Gen. Miller said that achieving peace has become hard as the violence remains high. He called on the Taliban to immediately reduce violence so that there is progress in talks.
“The people of Afghanistan will be in my heart and on my mind for the rest of my life.” He called the post “the highlight of my military career.”—Tolonews
