The Islamic Emirate denied claims by the former United States (US) special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad who voiced concerns over the presence of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, reports Tolo News on October 24. Zalmay Khalilzad, in an interview with CBS, said, “The reports that I have seen indicate that (leader of Al-Qaeda) could be in Afghanistan or adjacent territory, I don’t know whether the Taliban knows it or not.” He also said that the US was monitoring the commitments of the Islamic Emirate regarding terrorism. The deputy minister of information and culture Zabiullah Mujahid denied Khalilzad’s remarks, saying, “No, I don’t see such a danger; someone like that does not exist here and we haven’t received the information on such a level”.