A former senior commander of the Afghan National Army has rejected allegations against Jahan Shah Safi, an Afghan refugee arrested in the United States on suspicion of links to ISIS-K, saying he is “not a terrorist.”

Sami Sadat, the former Deputy Chief of the Afghan Army, said Safi had led counterterrorism operations against al-Qaida and ISIS-K in Afghanistan and argued that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should immediately release him and issue an apology.

DHS announced on Wednesday, December 3, that Jahan Shah Safi, an Afghan refugee transferred to the United States after 2021, had been arrested in Virginia on suspicion of ties to ISIS-K.

Sadat wrote on X on Thursday that Safi had been one of Afghanistan’s most effective intelligence officers, serving in Kunar province and leading operations against al-Qaida and ISIS-K. He said describing Safi as a terrorist amounted to a betrayal of wartime allies.

Sadat added that he personally knew Safi, noting that Safi’s father had fought against Soviet forces. He also criticised DHS, saying the department had failed to recognise Safi’s record of service.