Confrontation approaches despite remarkable calm: ISIS Khorasan in Taliban’s crosshairs

Mostafa Kamel

The confrontation between the Taliban and ISIS Khorasan has become inevitable due the operations carried out by the terrorist organization inside Afghanistan, specifically on the borders where it and its members take refuge, as observers confirm that the organization is a burden on the countries of Central Asia.

Inevitable confrontation

The Afghan capital, Kabul, witnessed an inevitable confrontation with ISIS Khorasan during a raid on one of the organization’s hideouts. Taliban spokesman  Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the Taliban security forces’ attack was carried out on an ISIS hideout in the town of Karte Naw, noting that a number of ISIS members, including foreign elements, were killed.

An armed fight broke out after those explosions between elements of the terrorist organization and a number of Taliban elements on a road in Karte Naw in Kabul’s District 8, which lasted for several hours, according to the independent Afghan newspaper Hasht-e Subh.

ISIS Khorasan published a 47-minute video clip on its media platforms in which it depicted the terrorist organization’s attacks on diplomatic centers and foreigners in Kabul.

Constant threat

For his part, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement to the UN Security Council that the activities of ISIS Khorasan continue to pose an important terrorist threat in Central and South Asia, especially as the organization is still trying to carry out attacks inside and outside Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Richard Mills, deputy representative of the United States to the United Nations, confirmed during a meeting in the UN Security Council that ISIS Khorasan still represents a serious threat in Central and South Asia, noting that the organization is trying to find the ability to carry out external attacks and that it is extremely important for the international community to prevent it from creating a safe haven for ISIS, al-Qaeda and their allies.

Period of calm

Ahmed Sayed Abu Salima, a researcher of Afghan affairs, said that on the ground, ISIS Khorasan is currently going through its worst conditions in nearly seven years, as it carried out nearly 24 attacks in January and February of last year, in contrast to only two attacks at the beginning of this year, one of which was on the Kabul airport and the other on the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Regarding the reduction of ISIS attacks inside Afghanistan and the inevitability of the Taliban confronting the terrorist organization, Abu Salima explained in statements to the Reference that there is a possibility that the Afghan movement only limited the threat of the terrorist organization at home, noting that ISIS may come out of its dormancy at any time and carry out new surprise operations, as it is in a state of apathy and calm before the storm. In addition, ISIS Khorasan is still broadcasting in its publication, the most recent of which was the fourth issue of the “Voice of Khorasan” magazine in Arabic, while the last visual publication by the ISIS branch included scenes of its members pledging allegiance to their new leader from different places.