KABUL: When the Taliban shifted their focus from the rebellion to the government, their most formidable rival was the regional chapter of the Islamic State, which had conducted a series of bloody attacks in recent weeks.
The last cruelty was claimed by the Islamic state-khorasan (IS-K) killed at least 19 people on Tuesday, including the Senior Taliban commander in a military hospital in Kabul, with tens of more injured.
It followed the massacre of a number of Shiite Muslims in a mosque last month, and suicide bombings that killed more than 100 people including 13 US troops as American forces were evacuated in August.
Here is seeing competition between the two groups: Islamic state groups come to stand out when proclaiming “Caliphate” in Syria in 2014.
It inspired a number of branches elsewhere included in the “Khorasan”, the historic area that took part in the modern day of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Turkmenistan.
Jean-Luc Marret, from the French Think Foundation tank for strategic research, describes IS-K as “conglomerate former jihadist organizations, including Uyghurs and Uzbeks, and Taliban readings”.
According to the UN estimation, IS-K has between 500 and several thousand fighters in North and East Afghanistan, including cells under the Taliban nose in the capital Kabul.
Since 2020, the group is said to be led by one Shahab Al-Muhajir, the Nom de Guerre suggested he arrived in the region from the Arab world but his origins remained bleak.
He diverse diverse to become an al-Qaeda commander or former member of the Haqqani network, one of the most powerful and feared factions in the Taliban.
Is-K has been responsible for some of the deadliest attacks in the region in recent years, massacred civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in mosques, temples, public boxes, and even hospitals.
This group has specifically targeted Muslims from sects that were considered astray, including Shia – like the original group.
It was hit hard by the Taliban and LED US forces and lost influence but the attack had increased since its rival Islamist took power in August.
According to researcher Abdul said the online extremism of extract trackers, Shahad put “new emphasis on urban warfare and symbolic violence”.
Many IS-K fighters fight for the Taliban or allied groups, or come from the rebel movements inspired by Al-Qaeda.
While both Taliban and IS-K are hardline Islamic guerrillas, they are different in religious strategies and interpretations, while claiming to be the bearer of the true flag of jihad.
Even though history targets Shia, the Taliban now promises to protect it.
Is-k, however, it remains bent to the group that eradicates it considers “apostate”.
The Taliban in 2021 aims to rule Afghanistan unde their interpretation of Islamic law, while IS-K is still married to the purpose of the global “Khalifhate”.
While the differences run in, the borders between groups are porous, and fighters can shift to the side such as the views and opportunities of their commanders evolved.
“Is-k has previously succeeded in recruiting members who are not satisfied with the Taliban and those who consider the Taliban to be too moderate,” Barbara said, of Dragonfly Security Intelligence.
“With the Taliban now it seems to apply moderate reform, there is a high probability (IS-K) will try to use it.” The US-supported Afghan government supported by the US received hundreds of billions of dollars in security support and security assistance but can defeat the Taliban or IS-K.
Now the face of Taliban-K with very little outer help, and there is no sophisticated intelligence collection and supervision deployed by the foreign military.
They knew their enemies and terrain, and last month announced the destruction of the cell is-K in Kabul after a suicide attack.
And they have potential support from two groups who know is-K tactics very well.
As a report from the US-based Soufan Center explained: “To combat IS-K, Taliban will rely on Haqqani, Al-Qaeda networks, and other non-state work actors for labor, combat expertise, and other logistics support.