KABUL: Afghanistan’s ‘caretaker’ President Amrullah Saleh has alleged that they had evidence which showed links of the IS-K cells with the Taliban and the Haqqani network operating in Kabul.
His reaction comes in the aftermath of the twin explosions at the Kabul Airport on Thursday.
He added that the Taliban denying links with ISIS was equivalent to Pakistan’s denial on Quetta Shura and said that they had ‘learned well’ from their masters, according to Republic World report.
Earlier Saleh had criticized Pakistan’s attempt to create chaos on Afghan soil and had stated that the Quetta Shura council was nothing else but a title for the Pakistan military to implement its plans, the news report said.
The Quetta Shura was formed after the collapse of the Taliban Government in 2001.
The organization consisted of senior leaders of the Afghan Taliban such as Mohammed Omar who fled to Pakistan’s Quetta in Balochistan after US troops retaliated in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
American intelligence had reported that Pakistan’s ISI had extended its support to the Quetta Shura. Once again, Pakistan’s hand in the Afghan crisis and the Taliban takeover has become evident.
Meanwhile, while Saleh stressed on the links between the Taliban and IS-K cells, US President Joe Biden held the Islamic State (IS)-affiliated extremists responsible for the twin explosions at Kabul Airport.
However, he noted that there was no evidence so far which indicated a collision between Taliban and Islamic State in attacks at Kabul airport.
Two suicide bombers and gunmen opened fire on throngs of Afghans at Kabul’s airport, turning a sight of desperation into one of terror on Thursday.
(With inputs from Republic World)
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