Daesh Terrorism in Afghanistan and Denouncement by Taliban

The first suicide attack by the Islamic State, also known as Daesh, in Afghanistan shows that it has established its presence in this region as well. The attack resulted in the deaths of about three dozen Afghan citizens, who were standing in line in front of a bank to withdraw their salaries. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has held Daesh responsible for the attack, and Daesh itself has accepted responsibility for this act of terrorism. A significant aspect of this situation is that Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, has denounced the attack as diabolical, while clarifying that the Taliban did not have a hand in it.

The prime minister of Pakistan, condemning the attack, said that terrorism is the common enemy of Pakistan and Afghanistan; both countries are striving to bring it to an end. According to the Nangarhar province police, the attack took place at a time when government employees and soldiers were lined up in front of a bank to receive their salaries. The explosion was carried out by a suicide bomber riding a motorbike.

The Afghan Taliban describing this act of Daesh as diabolical has given many people cause for wonder; both Daesh and the Taliban, they believe, demonstrate brutality in their massacre of innocent people, and there is no difference between their terrorist actions. How can those who commit the very same kind of actions describe the actions of the other as diabolical? Whether it is Daesh, or al-Qaida, or the Taliban, we see all three as executors of brutal actions and massacres. No person who believes in humanity’s higher values and in human rights can condone the acts of any of these groups. In any case, Daesh members are mostly terrorists who previously belonged to the Taliban or al-Qaida. All three groups seem to surpass each other in enmity toward humanity. The people of Pakistan need to remain alert against terrorists and their facilitators, regardless of whatever name they assume.

If the spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban is comparing the terrorist activities of Daesh to diabolical acts, then it is necessary that the Afghan Taliban make a proper assessment of the new realities in Afghanistan and ensure that their negotiations and communications with the elected government bear results. For many long years the Afghan people have had to deal with the effects of a war that was imposed upon them. The Afghan Taliban are the sons of Afghanistan. They should cease the endless chain of slaughter and bloodshed in their homeland and enter the national mainstream to play their role for the progress and prosperity of the people.

The role of the U.S. in the region is over to a large extent. Now there are absolutely no grounds for terrorism and bloodshed and all groups, along with the Afghan government, should unite to play their roles for raising Afghanistan from poverty and backwardness.