US Says It Will Not Let Afghanistan Become a Base for Attacks on American Interests Again
The US State Department says it is following the activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan “with concern” and will not allow the country’s soil to again become a platform for attacks against the United States and its interests.
A State Department spokesman told reporters that Washington “does not recognize the Taliban administration or any other group as the government of Afghanistan,” and that this position has not changed.
The warning came as the United States marked the 25th anniversary of the start of its military operation in Afghanistan, which began after the September 11, 2001 attacks and led to a long-term presence of US forces in the country.
Meanwhile, Ghaws Janbaz, a former Afghan diplomat and political analyst, criticised Washington’s policies in an interview with Radio Free Europe, saying US concerns about terrorism existed from the start, but the hasty withdrawal of its forces left the “main problem” unresolved.
He added that during its 20 years of presence, the United States carried out numerous operations, but, according to him, it “never attacked the main terrorist safe havens in Pakistan,” where the command, training and support centres were located. In his view, ignoring the “root of the crisis” allowed the problem to persist.
Under the Doha agreement signed on 29 February 2020 between the United States and the Taliban administration, the Taliban pledged not to allow Afghanistan to once again become a safe haven for terrorist groups. However, US officials have recently accused the Taliban administration of failing to meet counterterrorism commitments and said some groups remain active in Afghanistan.
The Taliban administration has not yet responded to the latest position from the US State Department, but it has repeatedly claimed that it will not allow Afghan soil to be used against any other country.
In a statement last week marking the same anniversary, the US State Department also reiterated Washington’s and the international community’s desire for an Afghanistan that does not serve as a safe haven for terrorists, criticised the Taliban administration’s performance, and said that “the current rulers of Afghanistan are not playing an effective role in ensuring peace and stability in the region.”
