Web Desk
TORKHAM: Kabul on Saturday turned down Pakistan’s demand to hand over Aslam Farooqi, the leader of the Afghanistan affiliate of the militant Islamic State (IS) group, Farooqi was captured with 26 other members during an operation by Afghan troops on April 5.
The Afghanistan government has rejected Pakistan’s demand for handing over Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) leader Aslam Farooqi.
The Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement in Dari issued on Friday: “Aslam Farooqi is the leader of the ISIS group who has committed many crimes in Afghanistan. He is accused of leading a series of operations that have resulted in the deaths of many civilian Afghans and soldiers. He will be treated according to the laws of Afghanistan.”
However, the Afghan foreign ministry added that Islamabad and Kabul could work together to curb terrorism in the region.
Pakistan had requested his custody for further investigation as the leader of the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), an affiliate of the Islamic State, was involved in anti-Pakistan activities in Afghanistan.
The group has also been involved in several terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Islamabad has long suspected that the group enjoyed the tacit support of the Afghan intelligence agency. It also accused the group of being the proxy of the Indian intelligence service RAW.
