Pakistan asks Afghanistan to hand over IS-Khorasan chief Aslam Farooqi

Pakistan on Thursday asked the Afghan government to hand over the chief of Islamic State-Khorasan – an ISIS affiliate – Aslam Farooqi to Islamabad, saying he had been involved in activities against the country.

In this connection, the Foreign Office summoned Afghan Ambassador Atif Mashal and said Islamabad had been informing Kabul and other relevant authorities about the group’s activities on regular basis, which were quite damaging to the country.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said the ambassador was told that the ISIS-Khorasan chief should be handed over to Pakistan for further interrogation. The two countries must coordinate the anti-terrorism activities under a well-defined mechanism, she added.

Earlier last week, the Afghan forces announced the arrest along with 19 other fighters.

Farooqi had been active in several roles within the group, both in Pakistan and in Afghanistan, the statement read, adding that he took over as the leader after the death of Abu Saeed Bajawori in 2018.

Farooqi had been active in several roles within the group, both in Pakistan and in Afghanistan, the statement read, adding that he took over as the leader after the death of Abu Saeed Bajawori in 2018.