The Taliban-run Ministry of Interior has once again claimed that ISIS has been “eradicated” in Afghanistan, asserting that the militant group’s presence in the country has been reduced to zero over the past year.
These statements come after recent comments by Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, who acknowledged in an interview with Iran’s Eraf news outlet that one to two percent of ISIS-Khorasan fighters might still be active in Afghanistan’s mountainous regions.
Contradicting the Taliban’s claims, the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) reported that ISIS-Khorasan retains a force of 2,000 to 3,500 fighters in Afghanistan, with affiliated groups bringing that number to around 6,000.
The United Nations has also painted a different picture, noting that under three years of Taliban rule, ISIS-Khorasan has carried out 361 attacks in Afghanistan.
“We can now tell everyone that ISIS is finished in Afghanistan. The malicious and disruptive elements no longer have any physical or visible presence, nor are they capable of any activities. Their presence has been reduced to zero,” Abdul Mateen Qanay, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior, said.
However, SIGAR’s latest report highlights the ongoing presence of 2,000 to 3,500 ISIS fighters in the country, with total forces, including affiliates, reaching up to 6,000.
In addition to ISIS, SIGAR reported on the presence of Pakistani Taliban (TTP) fighters in Afghanistan. The report estimates that between 6,000 and 6,500 TTP fighters have found refuge, primarily in eastern Afghanistan.
The United Nations’ latest findings align with SIGAR’s assessment, documenting 361 attacks by ISIS-Khorasan between August 2022 and June 2024. These attacks have resulted in 15,865 incidents, including the deaths of 1,182 civilians and injuries to 2,904 others.
Earlier, Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, warned of the ongoing threat posed by ISIS in Afghanistan, cautioning that the country could be the origin of another attack similar to September 11, 2001.
In a report by Express Tribune on August 19, Durrani described the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan as a “major” challenge for the region and the world.
