UN report on security incidents in Afghanistan untrue: IEA

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) on Thursday strongly rejected claims made in the latest United Nations report on the country, stating that the findings relating to security were “biased and untrue”.

The report, issued earlier this week, said there had been a 37 percent increase in security incidents this quarter, against the same time last year.

However, the report states that a high percentage of incidents were related to the clampdown on narcotics.

In a statement issued by the office of the IEA’s spokesman, the Islamic Emirate said: “Instead of praising the successful operation against drug dealers by the security forces of the Islamic Emirate, it has unfortunately been misinterpreted to portray Afghanistan as an unsafe and insecure country.

“While the brave and courageous security forces of the Islamic Emirate are fighting against corruptors, robbers, kidnappers, smugglers and gangsters in different parts of the country every day, and compared to last year, there have been positive changes and the level of incidents decreased significantly.

“Last year, due to the rapid fight against drugs, about 14,000 smugglers were arrested and handed over to the courts, and more than 5,500 tons of drugs were destroyed. More than 1,200 drug factories have been destroyed and 15,300 hectares of land has been cleared of poppy cultivation,” the statement read.

“Considering the above, this clearly shows how the United Nations is diverting the mindset of our people by misinterpreting positives into negatives.”

In addition, the IEA said such actions were being carried out in a bid to put pressure on the Islamic Emirate.