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Dozens of top-secret documents from the US Department of Defense have been circulated as part of the Pentagon leaks. As a new document now shows, Afghanistan is likely to pose a growing threat to Europe, Asia and the United States. That reports the Washington Post.
The reason: Less than two years after US President Joe Biden, 80, withdrew US troops from the country, the country had become a major coordination center for the Islamic State and thus a scene of terrorism. This could have fatal consequences for the rest of the world, as the Pentagon’s assessment shows: the terror group is said to be planning attacks across Europe and Asia.
Planned attacks on embassies, churches and the World Cup football
According to the document, the targets of the planned attacks are embassies, churches, business centers and the FIFA World Cup. Explosive: Pentagon officials are said to have known about nine such plans planned by ISIS leaders in Afghanistan in December. By February, the number had risen to 15.
“ISIS has developed a cost-effective model for remote operations that relies on resources outside Afghanistan, agents in target countries and extensive brokerage networks,” says the assessment, which has been classified as top secret. As the paper continues, the findings from Afghanistan represent one facet of a complex and evolving terrorist threat.
The document is not the only one of the Pentagon leaks about the Islamic State. Earlier reports already revealed the terror group’s ongoing efforts to gain expertise in chemical weapons production and drone operations in other parts of the world.
Biden administration declined to comment
According to The Washington Post, the latest report will almost certainly be used as a political cudgel. The chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 caused a sensation for the US government at the time. Although the evacuation allowed more than 120,000 people to flee before the Taliban’s return to power, tens of thousands of American allies were left behind.
At the paper’s request, officials in the Biden administration declined to comment on the authenticity of the leaked documents. However, since taking office, they have defended their counter-terrorism record. According to Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, the United States “remains able to remove terrorists from the battlefield without a permanent presence of troops on the ground.” In addition, anti-terrorist operations have been reorganized to face future threats “everywhere”.
Other US officials also declined to comment on the details of the classified documents, but said the reports seem to confirm previous warnings about the possibility of a resurgence of terrorism in Afghanistan following the US withdrawal. (dzc)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
