The Taliban’s spokesman has stated that the hardline Islamist group will crack down on Islamic State attacks and expects them to end once foreign forces leave the country.
‘We hope that those Afghans who are influenced by IS… will give up their operations on seeing the formation of an Islamic government in the absence of foreigners,‘ Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters in an interview.
‘If they create a situation for war and continue with their operations, the Islamic government… we will deal with them,’ he added.
Africa Daily News, New York had earlier reported that devastating suicide bomb attack claimed by IS outside Kabul airport on Thursday killed scores of people who were hoping to flee the country, as well as 13 US service members.
Retaliatory or pre-emptive strikes by the United States on IS positions over the past few days have angered the movement, however.
The evacuation of tens of thousands of foreigners and Afghans who feel at risk of reprisal or repression under the Taliban is due to end on Tuesday, along with the full withdrawal of US and NATO troops.
Islamic State has been highly critical of the troop withdrawal deal struck between the Taliban and Washington last year, which saw the Taliban offer security guarantees.
One IS commentary published after the fall of Kabul accused the Taliban of betraying jihadists with the US withdrawal deal and vowed to continue its fight, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant communications.
During the Taliban’s prison break spree this summer to free its fighters, many battle-hardened IS militants were also released — increasingly looking like a lethal error.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
