Taliban Take Control Of Afghanistan, BIN Performs Early Detection Of Terrorist Groups With Ideological Proximity

ILLUSTRATIONS / WHILE BIN

JAKARTA - The State Intelligence Agency (BIN) conducts early detection of terrorist groups that have ideological closeness and networks with the Taliban. This was done as an anticipatory measure after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.

"BIN together with the intelligence services are taking anticipatory steps by strengthening early detection and early prevention", BIN spokesman, Wawan Hari Purwanto told reporters, Thursday, August 19.

He said early detection is something that needs to be done considering the movement of terrorist groups in Indonesia is influenced by developments in the global and regional situation.

Wawan gave an example in 2014 when ISIS declared its goal of realizing an Islamic state in Iraq, several Indonesian citizens were interested in joining.

Wawan said the Taliban had promised not to interfere with foreign diplomatic missions in Afghanistan. However, he ensured that the Indonesian government would continue to monitor the security situation there.

"The safety of Indonesian citizens and Indonesian Embassy staff is the top priority for the Indonesian government. So far, the conditions for Indonesian citizens and Indonesian Embassy staff in Afghanistan are safe and sound", he said.

As previously reported, the Taliban succeeded in entering the capital city of Kabul and occupying the presidential palace on Sunday, August 15, making President Ashraf Ghani flee and foreign countries trying to evacuate diplomats, foreign missions, and civilians in Afghanistan.

The successive attacks carried out by the Taliban made it much faster for them to take control of Afghanistan. This is a far cry from US intelligence estimates that the Taliban will besiege Kabul within 30 days and capture the city in 90 days of successive attacks.

Regarding the presence of Indonesian citizens, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that currently, 15 people have reported their presence in Afghanistan. This number does not include staff serving at the Indonesian Embassy in Kabul.

These Indonesian citizens work as expatriates, work for United Nations agencies, and are married to residents.

"They are all in a good and safe condition. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian Embassy in Kabul continue to monitor developments in the security escalation in Afghanistan", said the Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens and BHI at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha via text message, quoted by Antara, Monday, August 16.