Islamic State–Taliban conflict

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Islamic State–Taliban conflict
Part of the continuous Afghanistan conflict
Date2 February 2015 – present
(6 years, 5 months, 3 weeks and 3 days)
Location
Afghanistan
Status

Ongoing

  • Initial Taliban victories in the battles of Darzab and Nangarhar[19]
  • Collapse of Islamic State stronghold in eastern Afghanistan in 2019[20]
  • IS-KP regains strength in 2021, retaking territory in eastern Afghanistan[21]
Belligerents

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Al-Qaeda[2]
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (pro-Taliban & anti-IS factions)[3]
Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin[4]

Supported by:
 United States[5][6][7][8]
 Iran (allegedly)[9][10]
 Pakistan (allegedly)[11]
 Russia (allegedly)[12]

Islamic State

Mullah Dadullah Front[14]
Fidai Mahaz[15]
High Council of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (HCIEA)[16]

Supported by:
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (allegedly, until 2021)[a]
Commanders and leaders
Afghanistan Hibatullah Akhundzada (2016–present)
Afghanistan Mohammad Hassan Akhund[22]
Afghanistan Abdul Ghani Baradar[22]
Afghanistan Abdul Salam Hanafi[22]
Afghanistan Mohammad Yaqoob Umar[22]
Afghanistan Qari Fasihuddin
Afghanistan Sirajuddin Haqqani[22]
Afghanistan Abdul Haq Wasiq[22]
Afghanistan Haji Nasarv
Afghanistan Neda Mohammad[23]
Formerly:
Akhtar Mansour † (2015–2016, killed in an American airstrike)
Abdul Ghani †[24]
Afghanistan Haji Shakir †[25]
Afghanistan Mawlawi Hamdullah Mukhlis †[26]
Mawlavi Ezzatullah †[27]		 Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi (2019–present)
Shahab al-Muhajir[28]
Mawlavi Habib Ur Rahman[29]
Najibullah
Muhammad Rasul
Formerly:
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi † (until 2019, killed in a US-led raid)
Hafiz Saeed Khan †
Abdul Haseeb Logari †[30][31]
Abdul Rahman Ghaleb †[32][33]
Abu Saad Erhabi †[34]
Abdul Rauf Aliza †
Mawlawi Ziya ul-Haq Executed[35]
Abdullah Orokzai (POW)[36][37]
Nematullah Qaweem Surrendered
Qari Hekmat †
Farooq Bengalzai †[38]
Haji Qomandan †[25]
Mansoor Dadullah †[39]
Abdul Manan Niazi †[40]
Hafiz Khalid Niazi †[41]
Mullah Baz Mohammad Haris (defected)[42]
Nangialai Khan †
Units involved

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan forces

Islamic State – Khorasan Province forces

Strength

Taliban and its allies:

  • 1,000 special forces (as of 2015)[47]
  • 75,000 (as of 2021)[48][49]
 Khorasan Province and its allies:
1,000–8,500 (2016)[b]
1,500–2,200 (as of 2021)[52]
HCIEA:
3,000–3,500[53]
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown
1,547 overall deaths (2015–2020)[54]

The Islamic State–Taliban conflict is an ongoing armed conflict between the Islamic State's Khorasan branch (IS-K) and the Taliban. The conflict escalated when militants who were affiliated with IS-K killed Abdul Ghani, a senior Taliban commander in Logar province on 2 February 2015.[24] Since then, Taliban and IS-K have engaged in clashes over the control of territory, mostly in eastern Afghanistan, but clashes have also occurred between the Taliban and ISIS-K cells which are located in the north-west and south-west.

The Haqqani network, Al-Qaeda and others supports the Taliban, while IS is supported by High Council of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,[55][56] Mullah Dadullah Front and pro-ISIS faction of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. After the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban in 2021, several members of Afghan intelligence agency and Afghan national army have also joined the Islamic State – Khorasan Province.[57][58]

Background[edit]

During the first stint in power of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan during 1996-2001, the ruling Taliban had suppressed Salafism; motivated by strict Deobandi tenets. However, after the US Invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Taliban and Ahl-i Hadith allied to wage a common Jihad to resist the invasion. Many Salafi commanders and Ahl-i Hadith organisations participated in the Taliban insurgency (2001-2021) under Afghan Taliban's command.[59]

During the Taliban insurgency, in January 2015, IS established itself in Khorasan and formed IS-K.[60] The main objective of IS-K was to occupy the land of Khorasan, that includes the country of Afghanistan.[61] Even though the initial IS-K was formed by Taliban as well as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan defectors and thus ideologically similar, it became dominated by Salafists.[62] The groups grew religiously distinct, as the Taliban are dominated by Sufi and Maturidi Hanafists whom Salafists criticize as impure Muslims. As a result, Afghan Salafists have been historically suppressed by the Taliban, along with periods of cooperation.[63]

The emergence of IS-K provided militant Afghan Salafists with an opportunity to set up a rival force, although Salafist support for the group waned as it proved ideologically "too extreme and brutal" for most Afghan Salafis.[64] As a result, majority of Afghan Salafis have remained supportive of the Taliban. In 2020, major Pashtun Ahl-i Hadith ulema convened in Peshawar under the leadership of Shaikh Abdul Aziz Nooristani and Haji Hayatullah to pledge Bay'ah (oath of loyalty) to the Taliban and publically condemn IS-K. The scholars also requested protection from the Afghan Taliban for the Ahl-i Hadith community.[65]

After Taliban victory in the War in Afghanistan and Restoration of the Islamic Emirate, hundreds of Ahl-i Hadith ulema would gather to announce their Bay'ah (pledge of allegiance) to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Numerous Ahl-i Hadith clerics and their representatives held gatherings across various provinces of Afghanistan to re-affirm their backing of the Taliban and officially declare their support to the Taliban crackdown on IS-K.[66]

Opposing forces[edit]

By 2016, IS-K mostly consisted of eastern Afghans, Pakistanis, and foreign fighters from Central Asia. The latter were mainly former members of the Islamic Jihad Union and the Turkistan Islamic Party. In addition, there were a small number of Arabs.[50] Throughout its existence, IS-K has operated in a very limited area, mainly concentrated in select provinces in eastern Afghanistan,[50] most importantly Nangarhar and Kunar.[67] By 2016, it had appointed shadow governors in other regions as well, but not exerted much influence outside its traditional bases.[50] The group is known to receive support by the Islamic State's central command in form of money[13] and combat trainers from Iraq and Syria.[67] IS-K's combat strength has fluctuated greatly over the years, but has mostly remained in the low thousands.[50]

During the Taliban insurgency[edit]

2015[edit]

On 2 February, militants affiliated with IS-K killed Abdul Ghani, a Taliban commander, in Logar province.[24]

On 26 May, Asif Nang, governor of Farah province, said the Taliban have been fighting against IS militants for the past three days in Farah province. The clash left 10 Taliban and 15 IS militants dead.[68]

In May, IS-K militants captured Maulvi Abbas, a Taliban commander who was leading a small squad of insurgent fighters in Nangarhar province.[69]

In June, IS-K militants beheaded 10 Taliban fighters who were fleeing an Afghan military offensive according to a spokesman of Afghan army corps responsible for the region.[69]

On 9 November, fighting had broken out between different Taliban factions in the Zabul Province of Afghanistan. Fighters loyal to the new Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour began to fight a pro-IS faction, led by Mullah Mansoor Dadullah. According to Afghan security and local officials, Akhtar Mansour had sent as many as 450 Taliban fighters to crush Mullah Mansoor and Islamic State elements in Zabul.[14] Dadullah's faction received support from IS during the clashes, and IS fighters also joined in on the fighting alongside Dadullah, including foreign fighters from Chechnya and Uzbekistan. Dadullah and IS were eventually defeated by Mansour's forces.[70] Hajji Momand Nasratyar, the district governor of Arghandab, said the fighting took place in three districts of Zabul province and 86 IS militants and 26 Taliban fighters were killed in the clash. Taliban also reported to have killed several IS militants who were responsible for beheading of seven Hazara civilians a few days back.[14]

Hajji Atta Jan, the Zabul provincial council chief, said the offensive by Mullah Mansour's fighters was so intense, that at least three Islamic State commanders, all of them ethnic Uzbeks, had surrendered. They were also asking others IS militants to do the same.[14] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, while quoting sources from Southern Afghanistan, reported that some 70 IS militants were also captured in the clash by the Taliban.[71]

On 13 November, Ghulam Jelani Farahi, an Afghan police chief, said that Mullah Mansoor Dadullah was killed in a clash with Taliban.[39]

2016[edit]

In January, hundreds of Taliban fighters launched an assault against IS bases in eastern Afghanistan. Taliban fighters were successful in capturing two districts from IS in eastern Afghanistan, but it failed to drive the group out of their stronghold in the Nazyan district in Nangarhar province.[72] Ataullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said that 26 IS militants and 5 Taliban fighters were killed in the clashes in Nangarhar.[73]

On 2 February, US carried out airstrikes targeting IS radio station in eastern Afghanistan. The strike destroyed the radio station and killed 29 IS militants.[74]

In March, Taliban factions led by Muhammad Rasul and opposed to Mansoor, began to fight against his loyalists in the group. During the fighting, dozens were reported killed.[56]

On 26 April, Hazrat Hussain Mashriqwal, a provincial police spokesman, said that 10 IS militants, including an IS commander, and 6 Taliban fighters were killed in a clash in Nangarhar. 15 IS militants and 4 Taliban fighters were also wounded during the same clash according to the spokesman.[75]

On 19 May, local government officials reported that a clash took place between IS and Taliban in Achin and Khogyani district of Nangarhar province. 15 IS militants and 3 Taliban fighters were killed in Achin district, and the remaining were killed in Khogyani. 4 Taliban commanders were also among the dead.[76]

On 13 August, US defence officials said that ISIL's top leader, Hafiz Saeed Khan, was killed in a drone strike on 26 July in Nangarhar province.[77]

On 30 October, Ajmal Zahid, a governor of Golestan district, said that ISIL's commander, Abdul Razaq Mehdi, was killed by Taliban fighters in Farah province.[78]

2017[edit]

On 13 April 2017, the United States dropped[79] the largest non-nuclear bomb, known as the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) Mother of All Bombs near Momand village[80] upon a Nangahar's Achin District village in eastern Afghanistan to destroy tunnel complexes used by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province (ISIL-KP or ISIS-K).[81][82][83] The Guardian reported that following the strike, US and Afghan forces conducted clearing operations and airstrikes in the area and assessed the damage.[84]

On 26 April, a fight occurred after IS captured 3 drug dealers who were involved in selling opium for the Taliban in Jowzjan Province. An Afghan National Police spokesman stated that the Taliban attacked IS in response, saying "The clashes erupted when group of armed Taliban attacked Daesh militants [to secure] the release of 3 drug smugglers who came here to pay 10 million afghanis [$14,780] to the Taliban for a deal." The Taliban's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid had also confirmed clashes were ongoing with IS at the time ,without providing details on the nature of the fight or reasons.[85] Mohammad Reza Ghafori, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said that the clashes between Taliban and IS-K had left 76 Taliban and 15 IS militants dead. IS militants also seized 2 districts from the Taliban, according to the spokesman.[86]

On 24 May, a clash between the Taliban and IS occurred, and at that time, it had reportedly been the largest clash between the two with 22 casualties, 13 of which were IS fighters, and 9 Taliban fighters, according to a Taliban official. The clashes occurred near Iran's border with Afghanistan. The Taliban had attacked an IS camp in the area, an IS commander, who was formerly a Taliban member, said that there was an agreement between the Taliban and IS not to attack each other until there was a dialogue. The commander claimed that the Taliban had violated the agreement and attacked the IS camp. The IS commander also claimed the attack was coordinated with the Iranian military, and that there were Iranians filming dead IS fighters. The Taliban splinter faction Fidai Mahaz has also criticized the Taliban for its relationship with Iran. Days before the battle, the Taliban reportedly met with Iranian officials to discuss regional issues. A spokesman for Fidai Mahaz claimed the meeting was held at the request of the Taliban, as it was weary of the expansion of IS in the country, which also concerned the Iranian government. The spokesman also said that the Taliban received US$3 million in cash, 3,000 arms, 40 trucks, and the ammunition from Iran's intelligence services, in order to fight IS near the Iranian border, although a Taliban spokesman denied the allegations.[87][88]

On 27 November, Taliban executed one of its senior commanders for colluding with IS. A week before, IS fighters were mass executed by their fellow militants in Achin district, according to a provincial government spokesman. However, the spokesman did not provide any additional detail, and neither did IS release any official statement on killing its own members.[89]

2018[edit]

Further information: Battle of Darzab (2018)
Surrendered Islamic State fighters after the Battle of Darzab.

On 20 June, after the talks between the Russian government and the Taliban, US assistant secretary of state Alice Wells condemned the Russian government's position on the Taliban that included backing for the group against IS, stating it gave the Taliban legitimacy and challenged the recognized Afghan government.[90]

In July, the Taliban launched an offensive against IS in the Jowzjan province. According to a surrendered IS commander, the Taliban had amassed 2,000 fighters for the offensive against IS. The fighters from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, who had sworn allegiance to IS, were also present fighting alongside IS against the Taliban. During the fighting, 3,500 to 7,000 civilians were displaced. By the end of July, IS's hold in the region was reduced to 2 villages, all thanks to the Taliban's campaign. In response, they requested support from the Afghan government, and also agreed to put down their arms in exchange for protection from the Taliban. The Afghan Air Force later carried out airstrikes against the Taliban in exchange for IS's surrender in the region. The agreement between the Afghan government and IS created controversy afterwards.[91][92] On 17 July, IS militants killed 15 Taliban militants and injured 5 others during a raid on a house belonging to a Taliban commander in Sar-e Pol. Abdul Qayuom Baqizoi, the police chief of Sar-e Pol, told Associated Press that Taliban and IS fighters have been fighting each other in Jowzjan and Sar-e Pol for more than two months, killing hundreds on both sides.[93]

In August, during the negotiations between the US government and the Taliban in Doha, the Taliban had requested that the US ends airstrikes on the Taliban, as well as provide support to the group in order to fight IS.[94]

2019[edit]

On 22 June, clashes were reported in Kunar between the Taliban and IS, by an Afghan government official. The official also claimed that the Afghan military had killed some IS fighters in the area, and that the Taliban was active in the area as well.[95]

On 29 June, IS released photos of weapons captured from the Taliban.[96] On the same day, IS published a video of its fighters renewing their Bayah to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. In the video, fighters criticized the Taliban for engaging in peace talks and called upon Taliban fighters to join IS.[97]

On 1 August, the Amaq News Agency claimed that IS had killed 5 Taliban members during clashes in Kunar.[98]

On 1 October, IS claimed to have killed and wounded 20 Taliban fighters in Tora Bora.[99]

2020[edit]

In March 2020, the Afghan Salafist Council under its emir, Shaikh Abdul Aziz Nooristani, met with Taliban leaders and plegded loyalty to their movement. Salafists had previously provided crucial support to IS-K, but recognized that the latter's position had greatly declined after its defeats in Nangarhar and Kunar.[100] The Salafist Council, represented by 32 scholars and military leaders, stated that they were in no way loyal to IS-K, and wanted to be left out of the Islamic State–Taliban conflict. The Taliban leadership accepted the pledge of loyalty, exploiting it in its propaganda.[101]

After the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan[edit]

Renewed Islamic State attacks and anti-Salafist purge[edit]

Further information: 2021 Kabul airport attack and 2021 Kunduz mosque bombing

The Taliban finally succeeded in taking over Afghanistan from the Islamic Republic during a large-scale offensive in summer 2021. Kabul fell on 15 August 2021, prompting the leaders of the IS-K to denounce the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.[102] The Taliban immediately moved to contain or purge potential opponents, including Islamic State supporters and Salafists. Across the country, the Taliban ordered the closure of Salaffist mosques seminaries and tried to arrest prominent Salafist scholars, prompting many to go into hiding. Among those targeted by the new Taliban authorities were Salafi clerics who had publicly opposed IS-K.[103] Researcher Abdul Sayed argued that the purge was probably organized by hardline anti-Salafist elements within the Taliban and more motivated by long-time resentment than fears about Salafi support for a future IS-K insurgency.[104] On 16 August, the Taliban claimed to have killed around 150 IS-K fighters, including its former chief Abu Umar Khurasani, while prisoners were being released from a jail in Kabul.[38] However, many IS-K militants were able to rejoin the IS-K ranks because of spree of prison breaks across the country organized by the Taliban.[38]

On 26 August, a suicide bombing and a mass shooting occurred near Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.[105][106][107][108][109] The attack began hours after the United States' State Department told Americans outside the airport to leave due to a terrorist threat.[110] At least 185 people were killed in the attacks, including 13 U.S. service members.[111] The Taliban condemned the attack, saying "evil circles will be strictly stopped".[112] The Taliban later announced that they would take every possible measure to capture IS-KP leader Shahab al-Muhajir.[113] The same day, Saifullah Mohammed, Taliban's CID chief, told The Times that they had captured 6 militants belonging to IS-K following a gun battle in western side of Kabul.[114]

Taliban militants kidnapped the influential Salafi cleric, Mullah Abu Obaidullah Mutawakil on 28 August; he was "brutal[ly]" murdered one week later.[100] Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid denied the Taliban's role in the killing of Mutawakil, but also did not condemn the murder.[100] Even though Mutawakil was described as an IS-K sympathiser and a large number of his students were part of IS-K,[38] he had not officially backed the Islamic State. IS-K did not offer prayers for him after his demise, stating that he had not been loyal to the Islamic State's caliphate.[103] On 9 November 2021, Reuters journalist James MacKenzie stated that "frequent, smaller atrocities" in the conflict are "less commonly reported."[115] Aside from the ISIS stronghold of Nangarhar, other affected areas include Ghazni in central Afghanistan, Herat in the west, Balkh in the north, and Paktia, Paktika and Khost in the southeast.[115]

Islamic State insurgency[edit]

On 6 September, Neda Mohammad, a Taliban governor for Nangarhar province, vowed to continue fighting IS-K militants. Nangarhar province is a stronghold of IS-K and the governor says that since taking over Nangarhar, his forces had arrested 70–80 suspected militants belonging to IS-K in Nangarhar province.[23]

On 8 September, Taliban killed Farooq Bengalzai, an ISKP head for a Pakistan's province, in Nimroz, Afghanistan.[38]

On 18 September, 7 people were killed when 4 bombs planted by suspected IS-KP members exploded in Jalalabad targeting Taliban patrols.[116]

On 22 September, 2 Taliban fighters and a civilian were killed by ISIL gunmen who attacked a checkpoint in Ghawchak district of Jalalabad, security sources and witnesses said.[117]

On 1 October, Taliban forces raided an ISKP base in the city of Charikar, north of Kabul. The Taliban claimed they had killed and arrested a number of ISKP members.[118]

On 2 October, suspected ISKP militants shot dead 2 Taliban fighters and 2 civilians in Jalalabad.[119]

On 3 October, an explosion at the entrance to the Eidgah Mosque in Kabul leaves at least 5 dead, where a memorial service was held for the mother of Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.[120][121][122][123][124][125] ISKP later claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming it killed Taliban militants.[126]

On 4 October, the Taliban says it has "destroyed an IS–K cell" in Kabul following yesterday's bombing at a mosque during the memorial for the mother of Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. Mujahid says that a special Taliban unit carried out the operation and that the base was destroyed and everyone inside was killed.[127]

On 6 October, 7 people, including at least 1 Taliban fighter, were killed in a grenade attack on a religious school in Khost. ISKP claimed responsibility for the attack.[128][129]

On 7 October, the Taliban announced that they had arrested 4 ISKP members after a raid in Paghman district, west of Kabul.[130] On the same day, ISIS claimed responsibility for the capture and execution of a Taliban fighter in District 2 of Jalalabad.[131]

On 8 October, a Uyghur Islamic State militant, by the name of Muhammad al-Uyghuri killed 55–100 people and injured dozens more after launching a suicide bombing on a Shi'ite mosque in Kunduz.[132][133][134][135]

On 9 October, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen announced that there would be no co-operation with the U.S to combat ISKP, saying that the Taliban are 'able to deal with ISIS independently'.[136]

On 10 October, ISKP claimed responsibility for the assassination of 2 Taliban fighters in District 7 of Jalalabad.[137]

On 14 October, a bomb killed a Taliban police chief in Asadabad, capital of Kunar province, Afghanistan. They also claim that 11 people were injured, including 4 Taliban soldiers.[138][139]

On 15 October, a bomb explosion occurred in Kandahar at the Shia 'Imam Bargah mosque', killing at least 65 people and wounding at least 70 more. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.[140][141]

On 20 October, the Taliban announced they had arrested at least 250 ISKP operatives between mid-September and mid-October 2021.[142]

On 23 October, ISKP claimed responsibility for shooting 2 Taliban fighters dead in District 1 of Jalalabad city.[143]

On 24 October, a bomb attack in Afghanistan has left at least 2 civilians dead on Saturday, 1 being a child, and four wounded. The device placed on the road in eastern Afghanistan was aimed at a Taliban vehicle.[144] On the same day, it was reported that ISKP had raised a flag in a village in Uruzgan Province and that the militants were distributing leaflets at mosques in nearby villages.[145]

On 25 October, 17 people were killed in clashes between gunmen and Taliban forces in Herat.[146] On the same day it was announced that Tajikistan and China had reached an agreement for China to fund construction for a new Tajik military base and that Chinese forces can completely operate a military base near the Afghan border.[147]

On 31 October, at least a hundred IS militants reportedly surrendered to the Taliban security forces in Nangarhar province, as part of an operation to suppress the insurgent formation in the country.[148]

In the month of October, an Afghan national army officer who commanded the military’s weapons and ammunition depot in Gardez before the Taliban takeover, was killed in clash with Taliban fighters.[45]

By early November, IS-KP in Nangarhar was repeatedly assassinating ex-republicans and pro-Taliban figures and attacked patrols with such a frequency that the Taliban government ordered its fighters in the province to no longer leave settlements at night.[149]

On 2 November, the 2021 Kabul hospital attack took place where assailants attacked the Daoud Khan Military Hospital with guns and suicide bombers killing at least 25 people and wounding at least 50 more people. A senior Taliban commander, Mawlawi Hamdullah Mukhlis, was killed in the attack. He was the head of the Kabul military corps and was 1 of the first "senior" Taliban commanders to enter the abandoned Afghan presidential palace on August 15.[26] The Taliban blamed ISKP for the attack and claimed that they killed at least 4 militants in a shootout.[150][151] On the same day, ISIL claimed responsibility for killing a Taliban judge in a gun attack in PD-2, Jalalabad.[152]

On 7 November, at least 3 members of the Taliban security forces were killed and 3 others wounded in a series of attacks in Jalalabad. "Two blasts hit the Taliban, then the ISKP militants engaged in a gunfight and finally managed to escape".[153]

On 10 November, a spokesman for the General Directorate of Intelligence, the new name of the Afghan spy agency under Taliban rule, told reporters in Kabul that they have arrested nearly 600 members of ISKP including “high-ranking” commanders.[43]

On 13 November, at least 3 people were killed including Afghan journalist Hameed Saighani after a bus exploded in a majority Shia part of Kabul city. ISKP later claimed responsibility.[154]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has provided financial and military support to the High Council of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (HCIEA), however, both the Islamic Republic and the HCIEA deny this.[17][18]
  2. ^ Estimates of IS-K strength in 2016 varied widely. The United States Armed Forces estimated between 1,000 and 3,000, whereas Afghan officials judged IS-K to have around 3,000 fighters.[50] Journalists Catherine Philip and David Charter stated that it were about 3,000 to 4,000.[51] One analyst put IS-K's strength at up to 8,500 if one included "support elements".[50]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Afghanistan Faces Tough Battle as Haqqanis Unify the Taliban – ABC News". ABC News. 8 May 2016. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016.
  2. ^ Roggio, Bill (12 July 2021). "Taliban advances as U.S. completes withdrawal". FDD's Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b Roggio, Bill; Weiss, Caleb (14 June 2016). "Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan faction emerges after group's collapse". Long War Journal. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  4. ^ "ISIS Violence Dents Taliban Claims Of Safer Afghanistan". NDTV.com. 9 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Taliban fought IS with 'limited' US military support, US general reveals". France 24. 10 March 2020.
  6. ^ Sisk, Richard (11 March 2020). "US Has Given 'Limited Support' to Taliban in ISIS Fight, General Says". Military.com.
  7. ^ Clark, Dartunorro; Da Silva, Chantal; Kube, Courtney (28 August 2021). "2 High Profile ISIS Targets Killed in US Drone Strike in Afghanistan, Pentagon Says". NBC News. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  8. ^ Liebermann, Oren; Sidhu, Sandi; Smith-Spark, Laura; Vandoorne, Saskya; Walsh, Nick Paton (30 August 2021). "Nine Family Members, Including Children, Killed in US Strike in Kabul Targeting Suspected IS-K Suicide Bomber, Relative Says". CNN. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  9. ^ "The Odd Couple: Why Iran Is Backing the Taliban". Stratfor.
  10. ^ Dreazen, Yochi. "Exclusive: Iran Teams With Taliban to Fight Islamic State in Afghanistan".
  11. ^ Pillalamarri, Akhilesh (29 January 2016). "Revealed: Why ISIS Hates the Taliban". thediplomat.com.
  12. ^ Noorzai, Roshan; Sahinkaya, Ezel; Gul Sarwan, Rahim (3 July 2020). "Afghan Lawmakers: Russian Support to Taliban No Secret". Voice of America.
  13. ^ a b Johnson 2016, p. 1.
  14. ^ a b c d Mashal, Mujib; Shah, Taimoor (9 November 2015). "Afghan Fighters Loyal to ISIS Beheaded 7 Hostages, Officials Say". The New York Times.
  15. ^ "Taliban leader Dadullah joins Afghanistan's ISIL | Pakistan Today". archive.pakistantoday.com.pk. 10 September 2015.
  16. ^ Qazi, Shereena (9 November 2015). "Deadly Taliban infighting erupts in Afghanistan". www.aljazeera.com.
  17. ^ Shah, Taimoor; Nordland, Rod; Sukhanyar, Jawad (19 June 2017). "Afghan Government Quietly Aids Breakaway Taliban Faction". The New York Times.
  18. ^ Donati, Jessica; Totakhil, Habib Khan (23 May 2016). "Afghan Government Secretly Fosters Taliban Splinter Groups". Wall Street Journal.
  19. ^ Seldin, Jeff (20 March 2020). "US Admits Taliban Offensive Is Whittling IS's Grip on Afghanistan". Voice of America.
  20. ^ Gibbons-Neff, Thomas; Mashal, Mujib (2 December 2019). "ISIS Is Losing Afghan Territory. That Means Little for Its Victims".
  21. ^ Zenn (2021), p. 2.
  22. ^ a b c d e f "Factbox: Taliban announces makeup of new Afghan government". Reuters. 7 September 2021.
  23. ^ a b "Taliban Provincial Governor Vows To Fight ISIS". NDTV.com. 6 September 2021.
  24. ^ a b c Panda, Ankit (3 February 2015). "Islamic State in Afghanistan: Start of a Turf War?". thediplomat.com.
  25. ^ a b "The Taliban Takes on Islamic State: Insurgents Vie for Control of Northern Afghanistan; Terrorism Monitor Volume: 16 Issue: 16". ecoi.net. 10 August 2018.
  26. ^ a b "Senior Taliban commander, several civilians killed in Kabul hospital attack". France 24. 2 November 2021.
  27. ^ "ISIS Violence Dents Taliban Claims Of Safer Afghanistan". NDTV.com. 9 November 2021.
  28. ^ "Who are Isis-K, and what is their relationship with the Taliban?". The Telegraph. 28 August 2021.
  29. ^ Shalizi, Hamid (7 April 2018). "Afghan air strike kills Islamic State commander". Reuters – via www.reuters.com.
  30. ^ "Army Rangers killed in Afghanistan were possible victims of friendly fire". Army Times. 28 April 2017.
  31. ^ Barbara Starr; Ralph Ellis (8 May 2017). "ISIS leader in Afghanistan was killed in raid, US confirms". CNN. Archived from the original on 8 May 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  32. ^ Browne, Ryan (14 July 2017). "US kills leader of ISIS in Afghanistan". CNN. Archived from the original on 14 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  33. ^ "Statement by Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Dana W. White on death of ISIS-K leader in Afghanistan". U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 14 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  34. ^ "ISIL leader in Afghanistan killed in air raids". aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  35. ^ "Taliban takes on ISKP, its most serious foe in Afghanistan". Al Jazeera. 27 September 2021.
  36. ^ "UN: Islamic State replaced leader in Afghanistan after visit from central leadership | FDD's Long War Journal". longwarjournal.org. 30 July 2019. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  37. ^ "Afghan forces announce arrest of local ISIL leader". Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  38. ^ a b c d e Rehman, Zia Ur (15 September 2021). "Afghan chaos mounts as ISIS-K tries to tarnish Taliban triumph". Nikkei Asia.
  39. ^ a b "'Leader of breakaway Taliban faction killed'". DAWN.COM. 13 November 2015.
  40. ^ Khan, Tahir (16 May 2021). "Rebel Taliban leader dies of injuries days after attack". Daily Times.
  41. ^ "Prayer ceremony for Taliban faction's deputy held at Herat Grand Mosque | Ariana News". ariananews.af. 17 May 2021.
  42. ^ Donati, Jessica; Totakhil, Habib Khan (14 August 2016). "Taliban Splinter Faction Pledges Allegiance to Main Group". Wall Street Journal.
  43. ^ a b Gul, Ayaz (10 November 2021). "Afghan Taliban Claim to Have Captured 600 IS Militants". VOA.
  44. ^ "Taliban say gap narrowing in talks with US over Afghanistan troop withdrawal". Military Times. 5 May 2019.
  45. ^ a b c Trofimov, Yaroslav (31 October 2021). "Left Behind After U.S. Withdrawal, Some Former Afghan Spies and Soldiers Turn to Islamic State". Wall Street Journal.
  46. ^ a b Janjua, Haroon (2 November 2021). "Twenty dead after suspected Isis-K attack on Kabul hospital". The Times. Several former Afghan government troops and intelligence agents have defected to Islamic State, the terrorist group which carried out yesterday’s attack on a hospital in Kabul.
  47. ^ "Why Taliban special forces are fighting Islamic State". BBC News. 18 December 2015.
  48. ^ Walsh, Joe (26 August 2021). "What Is ISIS-K Or IS-K? This Afghan Terror Group — And Taliban Enemy — Is Suspected In Kabul Airport Bombing". Forbes.
  49. ^ "Taliban Sweep in Afghanistan Follows Years of U.S. Miscalculations". The New York Times. 14 August 2021. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  50. ^ a b c d e f Johnson 2016, p. 2.
  51. ^ Philp, Catherine; Charter, David (27 August 2021). "Isis-K an acute and growing risk".
  52. ^ Walsh, Joe (27 August 2021). "What Is ISIS-K Or IS-K? This Afghan Terror Group — And Taliban Enemy — Is Suspected In Kabul Airport Bombing". Forbes.
  53. ^ "Red on Red: Analyzing Afghanistan's Intra-Insurgency Violence". Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. 24 January 2018.
  54. ^ "UCDP – Uppsala Conflict Data Program". ucdp.uu.se. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  55. ^ "Afghan Taliban Group Backs IS, But Only Abroad". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  56. ^ a b Rasmussen, Sune Engel (10 March 2016). "Dozens killed in clashes between rival Taliban factions in Afghanistan" – via www.theguardian.com.
  57. ^ Janjua, Haroon (2 November 2021). "Twenty dead after suspected Isis-K attack on Kabul hospital". The Times. Several former Afghan government troops and intelligence agents have defected to Islamic State, the terrorist group which carried out yesterday’s attack on a hospital in Kabul.
  58. ^ Trofimov, Yaroslav (31 October 2021). "Left Behind After U.S. Withdrawal, Some Former Afghan Spies and Soldiers Turn to Islamic State". Wall Street Journal.
  59. ^ Sayed, Abdul (20 November 2020). "Islamic State Khorasan Province's Peshawar Seminary Attack and War Against Afghan Taliban Hanafis". The JamesTown Foundation. The Afghan Taliban’s scholars are strict Deobandis and suppressed the Salafist trend when they came to power in Afghanistan in the 1990s.... However, the post-9/11 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan provided Salafists with an opportunity to thrive because the religious duty of defensive war against ‘infidel’ American invaders forced the Afghan Taliban to ally with Salafists... Salafists, therefore, remained either foot soldiers or part of small groups under the Afghan Taliban’s command.
  60. ^ "A.P. Buys Worldwide Television News". The New York Times. 3 June 1998. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  61. ^ Rana, Muhammad Amir (5 September 2021). "The Khorasan chapter threat". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  62. ^ Sayed 2021, pp. 10–11.
  63. ^ Sayed 2021, p. 11.
  64. ^ Sayed 2021, pp. 11–12.
  65. ^ Sayed, Abdul (20 November 2020). "Islamic State Khorasan Province's Peshawar Seminary Attack and War Against Afghan Taliban Hanafis". The JamesTown Foundation. Pashtun Salafist figures convened in Peshawar under the leadership of Shaikh Abdul Aziz Nooristani and Haji Hayatullah, who is the nephew of Shaikh Jamil ur Rehman, and pledged an oath of loyalty to the Afghan Taliban and condemned IS-K. They requested protection from the Afghan Taliban for the Salafist community... Salafists ostensibly are now loyal to the Afghan Taliban
  66. ^ "Ahl-e-Hadith clerics announce allegiance to Taliban in Nangarhar". Afghan Islamic Press. 1 November 2021. Archived from the original on 13 November 2021.
  67. ^ a b Johnson 2016, p. 3.
  68. ^ "Bombs kill 11 in Afghanistan as Taliban, ISIS supporters clash". Al Arabiya English. 26 May 2015.
  69. ^ a b Goldstein, Joseph (4 June 2015). "In ISIS, the Taliban Face an Insurgent Threat of Their Own". The New York Times.
  70. ^ "Taliban-on-Taliban turf war erupts in Afghanistan". www.worldbulletin.net/.
  71. ^ "Afghan Taliban Detail Fight Against Uzbek IS Militants". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 30 November 2015.
  72. ^ Kaplan, Michael (5 January 2016). "Taliban Launches Anti-ISIS Offensive: Afghan Insurgents Capture Two Districts From Islamic State Group". International Business Times.
  73. ^ Agency, Anadolu (6 January 2016). "At least 31 militants killed in clashes between Taliban, Daesh in Afghanistan". Daily Sabah.
  74. ^ Botelho, Greg; Popalzai, Masoud (2 February 2016). "Official: U.S. strikes ISIS radio station in Afghanistan". CNN.
  75. ^ "30 Killed as Taliban, ISIS Terrorists Clash in Afghanistan". Alwaght.com. 26 April 2016.
  76. ^ "27 killed, 11 wounded as clash erupts among Taliban and ISIS in Nangarhar". The Khaama Press News Agency. 19 May 2016.
  77. ^ "Top ISIS Leader in Afghanistan Killed in US Airstrike". ABC News. 13 August 2016.
  78. ^ "Daesh Commander Killed By Taliban In Farah". TOLOnews. 30 October 2016.
  79. ^ USA TODAY (14 April 2017). "Drone footage shows MOAB drop in Afghanistan" – via YouTube.
  80. ^ Rasmussen, Sune Engel (14 April 2017). "'It felt like the heavens were falling': Afghans reel from MOAB impact". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  81. ^ "U.S. drops 'mother of all bombs' in Afghanistan, marking weapon's first use". CBS News. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  82. ^ Tomlinson, Lucas (13 April 2017). "US drops largest non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan after Green Beret killed". Fox News. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  83. ^ Starr, Barbara; Browne, Ryan. "US drops largest non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan". CNN. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  84. ^ "US 'mother of all bombs' killed 92 Isis militants, say Afghan officials". the Guardian. 15 April 2017.
  85. ^ "Nearly 100 dead as Taliban, Daesh clash in Afghanistan".
  86. ^ "ISIS in Afghanistan is attacking the Taliban, killing dozens". Business Insider. 26 April 2017.
  87. ^ Yousafzai, Sami (17 June 2015). "Iran and the Afghan Taliban Teaming Up Against ISIS". The Daily Beast – via www.thedailybeast.com.
  88. ^ "Afghan Taliban Officials Pay 'Fruitful' Visit to Iran". NBC News.
  89. ^ "The Taliban executes one of its own commanders for colluding with ISIS". Newsweek. 27 November 2017.
  90. ^ Diplomat, Samuel Ramani, The. "Why Has Russia Invited the Taliban to Moscow?". The Diplomat.
  91. ^ "Families flee as Taliban battle Islamic State in northern Afghanistan". Reuters. 20 July 2018 – via www.reuters.com.
  92. ^ Roggio, Bill (1 August 2018). "Taliban says Islamic State has been 'completely defeated' in Jawzjan". www.longwarjournal.org.
  93. ^ "ISIS just ambushed and killed 15 Taliban fighters as the terror groups wage a bloody battle while the US watches". Business Insider. 17 July 2018.
  94. ^ Haroon Janjua, Islamabad, Hugh Tomlinson, Delhi (7 August 2018). "Taliban asks US to stop airstrikes so it can crush Isis". The Times.
  95. ^ "Heavy clashes underway between Taliban, ISIS militants in two districts of Kunar". The Khaama Press News Agency. 22 June 2019.
  96. ^ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D-Qy82-X4AAPVvm.jpg
  97. ^ "Islamic State: renewed bay'ah from Khorasan province – IFI Monitoring". 1 July 2019. Archived from the original on 1 July 2019.
  98. ^ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EA6Hu9oXkAUU4xG?format=jpg&name=small
  99. ^ "Islamic State". 1 October 2019. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019.
  100. ^ a b c Sayed 2021, p. 9.
  101. ^ Sayed 2021, pp. 9–10.
  102. ^ "Explained: Who are Islamic State-Khorasan, the terror group that carried out Kabul Airport blast". Firstpost. 27 August 2021.
  103. ^ a b Sayed 2021, p. 10.
  104. ^ Sayed 2021, p. 12.
  105. ^ "Afghanistan news: Latest on blasts reported outside Kabul airport". 26 August 2021.
  106. ^ "Biden on Kabul suicide bombings: 'We will hunt you down and make you pay".
  107. ^ "Sheer Chaos: At Least 13 U.S. Troops Killed as Blasts Rock Kabul Airport". The Daily Beast. 26 August 2021.
  108. ^ Ivana Kottasová, Barbara Starr, Kylie Atwood, Nick Paton Walsh, Sam Kiley, Zachary Cohen, Jennifer Hansler and Tim Lister (27 August 2021). "US troops, Afghans killed in attacks outside Kabul airport". CNN.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  109. ^ Cooper, Helene; Schmitt, Eric; Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (27 August 2021). "As U.S. Troops Searched Afghans, a Bomber in the Crowd Moved In". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  110. ^ "Afghanistan explosions: 13 US service members killed in Kabul airport blast, more wounded, officials say". Fox News. 26 August 2021.
  111. ^ "Biden Vows to Finish Mission, Hunt Attackers: Afghanistan Update". Bloomberg News. 26 August 2021.
  112. ^ "Taliban condemns suicide bombing at Kabul airport". Fox News. 26 August 2021. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  113. ^ Farmer, Ben (27 August 2021). "Ambitious new Isis-K leader becomes Taliban's most wanted enemy after Kabul attacks". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  114. ^ "Taliban claims to have caught two Malaysians fighting for IS-K in Kabul". The Star. 28 August 2021.
  115. ^ a b "Islamic State violence dents Taliban claims of safer Afghanistan". Reuters. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  116. ^ "Afghanistan: Several dead as blasts rock Jalalabad and Kabul". Al Jazeera. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  117. ^ Two Taliban among three killed in Jalalabad attack. Express Tribune. 22 September 2021.
  118. ^ "Taliban raid ISIS haven in Parwan province; kill, arrest several affiliates". IndiaTVNews.com. 3 October 2021.
  119. ^ "Gunmen kills two Taliban members in Jalalabad". NewYorkPost. 3 October 2021.
  120. ^ "Afganistán: Bomba en mezquita deja 5 civiles muertos". AP NEWS. 3 October 2021.
  121. ^ actualización, Madrid Creada /Última (3 October 2021). "Atentado contra una mezquita de Kabul en la que se encontraba el portavoz de los talibanes". La Razón.
  122. ^ "Afganistán: una explosión en Kabul deja al menos cinco muertos, informan los talibanes". France 24. 3 October 2021.
  123. ^ Vega, Luis de (3 October 2021). "Varios muertos en un atentado en Kabul, según los talibanes". El País.
  124. ^ "Afganistán: Bomba en mezquita deja varios civiles muertos". www.telemetro.com.
  125. ^ "At least 5 killed after blast targets memorial service in Kabul". www.aljazeera.com.
  126. ^ "ISIS claims responsibility for bombing near a mosque in Kabul". NINA News.
  127. ^ "Taliban 'destroy' IS-K cell after Kabul mosque bombing | DW | 04.10.2021".
  128. ^ "Picture of one of the Taliban militants killed in this evening's mosque blast in Khost, which was caused by a grenade, as per TB sources". liveuamap.com.
  129. ^ "Afghanistan: Death toll from explosion at school in Khost reaches 7". ANI News.
  130. ^ "Taliban says four ISIS members captured in raid near Kabul". TheStraitsTimes. 7 October 2021.
  131. ^ "ISIS has claimed responsibility for the capture and summary execution of a rival Taliban militant in District 2 of the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad". liveuamap.com.
  132. ^ "Afghanistan IS-K bomber (Muhammed al Uyghuri) that detonated his PBIED in Kunduz, killing 40–100 in a Shiite mosque. He is noted by ISIS to be a Uyghur, framed in response to the Taliban & their relations with China. He's holding a (likely local copy) Zigana T pattern pistol". liveuamap.com.
  133. ^ "Suicide bombing at Afghanistan's Kunduz mosque kills at least 55 worshippers". South China Morning Post. 8 October 2021.
  134. ^ "Shia mosque bombing kills dozens in Afghan city of Kunduz". TheGuardian. 8 October 2021.
  135. ^ "Islamic State-Khorasan claims responsibility for suicide bombing at Kunduz, 100 dead".
  136. ^ "Taliban: We will not work with the United States to contain ISIS". AsumeTech.com. 9 October 2021.
  137. ^ "ISIS has claimed responsibility for the assassination of two rival Taliban militants in District 7 of the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad". liveuamap.com.
  138. ^ Press, Europa (14 October 2021). "Muere un alto cargo de la policía de los talibán en un atentado con bomba en el este de Afganistán". www.europapress.es. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  139. ^ "Un jefe policial talibán muere en un ataque con explosivos en Afganistán". SWI swissinfo.ch (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  140. ^ "Four suicide bombers kill and injure dozens of people in Kandahar mosque blasts". 15 October 2021.
  141. ^ [1]
  142. ^ "Spotlight on Global Jihad (October 21-27, 2021)". The Meir Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. 28 October 2021.
  143. ^ "ISIS has claimed responsibility for shooting and killing 2 rival Taliban militants in District 1 of the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad". liveuamap.com.
  144. ^ "Dos civiles muertos en un nuevo ataque terrorista en Afganistán". 23 October 2021.
  145. ^ "Spotlight on Global Jihad (October 21-27, 2021)". The Meir Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. 28 October 2021.
  146. ^ "17 people killed in clash between Taliban, group of armed men in Herat". aninews.in.
  147. ^ Krishnan, Ananth (28 October 2021). "Eye on Afghanistan, China to build military base in Tajikistan". TheHindu.com.
  148. ^ "Un centenar de yihadistas se entregan a los talibanes en Afganistán | DW | 31.10.2021". DW.COM (in Spanish). 31 October 2021.
  149. ^ Zenn (2021), p. 2–3.
  150. ^ More than 20 killed in attack on Kabul military hospital
  151. ^ Reuters (2 November 2021). "Explosions and gun attack on central Kabul hospital kill 25 people". the Guardian. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  152. ^ "Today's second claim from ISKP: ISKP claiming to have assassinated a Taliban judge in a gun attack in PD-2, Jalalabad, Nangarhar". liveuamap.com.
  153. ^ "Taliban deaths in Islamic State clashes". The West Australian. 7 November 2021.
  154. ^ "ISIS-K claims responsibility for Saturday's explosion in Kabul". aninews.in.

Works cited[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Islamic_State–Taliban_conflict&oldid=1056049453"