The Taliban and the Islamic State have no ideological or theological differences. They are both jihad groups competing for regional and ultimately for global power. Two years ago, the Taliban was reported to have risen “to become world’s deadliest terrorist group.”
Qari Saeed Khosty, who handles social media responsibilities for the Taliban, tries to downplay the obvious threat of ISIS. Yet while putting on a show about how the Taliban has no need for cooperation “with anyone against ISIS,” Khosty contradictorily admits that the Islamic State has “returned and grew.” The truth is that the Taliban is accepting any help it can get, which will go to support its battle against ISIS-K, as well as aid in its power play for regional dominance.
A real view of the threat that ISIS-K poses to the Taliban:
As ISIS was defeated in Iraq and Syria, a splinter Taliban faction formed a new group calling itself the Islamic State Khorasan province, or ISIS-K, in Afghanistan. Both the Taliban and the U.S. saw the group as a threat and Pentagon leadership has even acknowledged instances in which U.S. airstrikes against ISIS effectively assisted Taliban engagements on the ground.
The Taliban is now being aided by many countries and groups, including Pakistan, which has partnered with the Taliban for a long time; the UN, which is calling on every country for funds to rebuild Afghanistan (despite the fact that the Taliban will use those funds to gain dominance and expand the scope of Sharia); and China, which is developing infrastructure in Afghanistan.
“The Taliban Blames the U.S. for Afghanistan’s Growing ISIS Problem,” by Tom O’Connor, Newsweek, October 13, 2021:
The Taliban blames the United States for growing problems presented by the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) in Afghanistan, where a deadly rivalry has disrupted the early days of the newly declared Islamic Emirate.
Ahmad Yasir, protocol officer of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, is among the senior officials who are of the opinion that outside powers were to blame for ISIS’ presence in Afghanistan, where an attack claimed by the jihadis against a Shiite Muslim mosque last week claimed the lives of dozens and injured hundreds more.
Asked by Newsweek if the ISIS threat had grown since the withdrawal of U.S. forces at the end of August and if the Taliban specifically blamed the U.S. for this increased threat, Yasir replied, “Yes, there is no doubt that the malicious hand is behind the ISIS attack.”
And he argued that his group had evidence to prove this claim, though he declined to share at this date and time, saying such materials would be made available “in the future.”
Also holding the U.S. responsible for the ISIS foothold was Qari Saeed Khosty, who handles social media responsibilities for the Taliban. He dismissed the notion that the group now in charge of Afghanistan would need to work with the U.S. to take on a common foe.
“The Islamic Emirate has no need for cooperation with anyone against ISIS, because ISIS does not have popular roots in Afghanistan,” Khosty told Newsweek. “As you see, it was with American help and the help of the Kabul administration, that ISIS returned and grew.”
The Taliban and ISIS are enemies with conflicting ambitions in their respective struggles.
The Taliban is rooted in Afghanistan, where the group emerged from the wake of a U.S.-aided mujahideen struggle against a Soviet intervention from 1979 to 1988. The conflict also gave birth to Al-Qaeda, which would take root in Afghanistan as the Taliban took control of much of the country until 2001, when the 9/11 attacks prompted a U.S.-led military campaign that dismantled the Taliban-led government.
The Islamic Emirate would return as an insurgency for the next 20 years until being reestablished as U.S. forces withdrew in August. Al-Qaeda, however, would spread elsewhere as the U.S. next invaded Iraq, toppling longtime leader Saddam Hussein and stirring a sectarian war that saw both Sunni and Shiite Muslim militias take up arms.
The most violent of these organizations was Al-Qaeda in Iraq, which declared the Islamic State of Iraq in 2006 and ultimately took advantage of a civil war in neighbor Syria to extend its presence there and rebrand as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or the Levant, in 2013. The newly formed group known as ISIS established a self-proclaimed caliphate that comprised large parts of Iraq and Syria, drawing international condemnation…..
Beneath the Veil of Consciousness says
The Taliban bit off more than they can chew. Now they are seeking life support from the civilized world so they can carry out the evil dictates of Islam. Let China deal with them. They are more aligned with the Taliban’s ruthless and immoral nature and may provide them with ‘what for’ by handing them ample doses of their own medicine.
wpm says
China wants to mine the rare earth deposits in Afghanistan in my opinion. That is why they sunk alot of money in Pakistan to update the ports there. It will be interesting on how atheist communist empire works with a jihadist Islamic Taliban. As the Chinese with their one child policy of the last 30 years sends the only sons of Chinese families into the meat grinder of Afghanistan. How will India, Turkey, the rest of the Middle East and near east fit in? Will the mumbling ,bumbling Idiot still be President when it hits the fan?
PMK says
The ‘atheist communist empire’ and the ‘jihadist Islamic Taliban’ have one thing in common: both rely on force to maintain their respective regimes. They also have a common enemy: the West. The leaders will find a way to work together.
wpm says
True they hate the west ,will their hate stay hot enough long enough for a long term relationship ?Jihadist leadership changes fast if they have no external enemies to fight they turn on each other. Will the Chinese wait to see which crab can climb out of the pot to pick a winner or help pick a winner of their choosing? .How is China,s project of port building going in Pakistan? What about other nations in the area India ,Russia ,Turkey. the other sans on the Russia, Afghanistan border ?Will the Chinese risk waiting past 2024 when America will not have a senile old man (Biden) in charge or a over priced over the hill call girl (Harris)running the show?
James Lincoln says
wpm,
If that happens, the Taliban will have met their match.
Chicoms are “not too worried” about human rights, etc., and Afghanistan sits on $1 trillion worth of minerals.
They could then treat the Taliban the same way that they are currently treating the Uighurs…
Keith O says
I find it amusing that two products of the CIA’s machinations, the Taliban and ISIS, are now fighting it out for control of a hell hole created by the ineptitude of western governments.
The big problem is that now, with the US’s retreat from Afghanistan, these barbarians are in a much stronger and emboldened position to export, with the help of Pakistan, their own versions of Jihad to the civilised world.
I have the feeling that our grand kids will be fighting against these animals when they are old men.
gravenimage says
Keith, your claim that Jihad terror is actually created by the West is mistaken. The Taliban and Islamic State could not be more Islamic.
Keith O says
No GI, I didn’t say that Jihad terror was created by the west.
What I said was that the Taliban and ISIS were created by the CIA.
If you have a look at the history of these groups yo will understand that the Taliban are a result of the CIA fighting a proxy war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and ISIS crawled out of the sewer that was the CIA efforts to run Iraq and Syria.
And as happens quite often the monster that was created got away from it’s master.
gravenimage says
Keith, the Taliban dates from 1994–the Soviet Union not only was not in Aghanistan at this late date, it no longer existed at all.
And as many mistakes as the US made in Iraq, creating ISIS was not one of them.
Again, blaming Jihad terror on the ‘filthy Infidels’ makes no sense.
wpm says
I think our great grand kids will be still fighting these these animals and Biden,s grand kids will still be living in gated communities and going to private schools that is the great shame of democratic parties power. Sander now has three houses he says he worries about homeless in America how much of his personal wealth goes to solving that problem ,he could donate some of his wealth or real time to solving it .Democrats love using the other peoples wealth, the other peoples blood the other peoples childern,s lives future to their cause not their own!
gravenimage says
Taliban blames US for Afghanistan’s Islamic State problem
…………..
Grimly laughable–these are just rival Jihad groups jockeying for power. Alien vs predator.
David Foot says
You broke it you bought it, Taliban shouldn’t be trying to govern what they can’t govern, Taliban should have stayed in the hills with the Pakistanies.
Pakistanies were the arsonists in this case, so they should help the Taliban! Good luck with that!
What I can’t understand for the life of me is why Boris gives UK foreign aid to China and Pakistan, it is incredible how stupid a one nation Tory can be.
Boris loves betraying his country so now he must be starting to send the Taliban foreign aid, it is what any anti-British person would do normally, and one nation Tories are as anti-British as you can get!
Take a look at what Boris does now: they are letting in Moslems and anything you like and putting them in Ramada Hotels!
They expect them to write back: “Don’t come! They will spoil you to death”!