BNPT Watchful for Groups Rallying Sympathy for Taliban

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Comm. General Boy Rafli Amar reminded people to be wise in reacting to the abundance of news coverage on conflicts betwen Taliban and Afghanistan. He argued that it was not impossible for some groups to exploit the issue and rally sympathy. 

“Don’t wrongfully sympathize as our observation shows some groups trying to rally sympathy amidst the Taliban news coverages. We are currently looking into this,” the BNPT Chief said in a press release on August 20, Antaranews reported. 

He mentioned this pressing problem after visiting the Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka at the Surakarta City Hall on Thursday. Their visit was to build synergy with many instances in preventing radicalism and terrorism in the country. 

Moreover, he made it clear that people need to realize that what has happened in Afghanistan is a domestic problem. What is happening in the middle eastern country should not arise in Indonesia. 

“There shall not be anyone influenced to join unnecessary movements because we are a nation of ideology and constitution that requires us to defend our own nation, not defend another,” said Boy Rafli Amar. 

Responding to questions related to the influence Taliban might have for terrorist cells such as ISIS in Indonesia, the BNPT chief said the Taliban is not affiliated to ISIS. 

“The Taliban should not be a role model for our youth as it goes against our philosophy and ideology of Pancasila,” he said.

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ANTARA