BNPT Wary of Impacts Taliban Victory in Afghanistan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) spokesman Brigadier General Eddy Hartono said his side along with the intelligence community and law enforcement officials kept a wary eye on the potential impacts of the Taliban's victory in Afghanistan on radical and terrorist groups in Indonesia. Eddy said the potential risks should not be underestimated.

“BNPT and related ministries, especially intelligence officers and law enforcement officers, stay vigilant, so we must not underestimate it,” Eddy told Tempo on Sunday night, August 22.

He acknowledged that the victory of the Islamist group was Afghanistan’s domestic affairs. However, he argued there were concerns that terrorist networks in the archipelago framed its victory as a success against western hegemony.

Eddy said such framing might be imitated by a number of groups in Indonesia to rally sympathy and build strength. He also mentioned that terrorist groups in Indonesia, particularly Jamaah Islamiyah, adopted a neat and structured recruitment strategy and had strong funding.

Many argued that BNPT should not worry too much given Taliban reportedly have turned more moderate and claimed they would no longer be associated with terrorist networks. But Eddy opined that the Taliban pursued their political interests by taking control over Afghanistan to form a new government according to their wishes.

“This should not be copied and pasted by radical terrorism groups to take over the Indonesian government to develop a country other than (based on) Pancasila,” said Eddy.

Read: BNPT Watchful for Groups Rallying Sympathy for Taliban

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