South East Asia

Conflict Trends Update

AFGHANISTAN

A series of improvised explosive attacks and shootings targeted Taliban security forces and vehicles in Nangarhar, Baghlan and Kunduz provinces as well as the capital Kabul in the past week. Crisis Group expert Ibraheem Bahiss says having already claimed multiple attacks, it appears likely that the Islamic State’s Afghan affiliate (ISKP) is primarily responsible for the wave of violence. Taliban forces are stepping up their crackdown on suspected ISKP-linked individuals and have closed several Salafi madrassas. There is a real risk that the string of attacks could morph into a more widespread and potent ISKP insurgency challenging Taliban rule.

INTERVIU. Un profesor afgan povestește cum „agenții români” l-au salvat. Cursă cu mașina

Fondatorul primei universităţi private din Afganistan, Zaker Hussain Ershad, a fost unul dintre cei 139 de cetăţeni afgani evacuaţi cu ajutorul autorităţilor române. Ershad e acum într-un centru de refugiaţi din Galați, România, şi spune că, în curând, speră să predea la Facultatea de Ştiinţe Politice, Universitatea din Bucureşti.

Afghan Taliban Statement Criticizes U.S. Officials For Saying That Taliban Interior Minister And FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist Sirajuddin Haqqani Is Among U.S. Targets

In a statement, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Afghan Taliban jihadi organization which seized power on August 15, 2021) has condemned remarks by American officials that some ministers appointed by the Taliban are on the U.S. blacklist of terrorists and still targets for United States counterterrorism forces.

Former Afghan Vice President Karim Khalili Warns The Taliban Rulers: ‘Afghanistan’s Shi’ite Minority, The Hazara Community, Will Resume Armed Confrontation’

In an interview with Russian news agency Tass, former Afghan vice president Karim Khalili warned the Afghan Taliban that Shi’ite Muslims may join hands with other ethnic groups in Afghanistan to form a national resistance against the Taliban. Karim Khalili’s name has figured into the list of Afghan leaders likely to join the anti-Taliban resistance front led by Ahmed Massoud.[1] Other opposition names include: Amrullah Saleh, Salahuddin Rabbani, Abdul Rashid Dostum, Ata Mohammed Noor, Ismail Khan, and Hazrat Ali.

Afghans who fled Panjshir: ‘Everything can change by the hour’

As resistance forces continue to battle the Taliban on Afghanistan’s last war front, residents who fled the province say there is no clear winner yet.

Since the Taliban claimed “complete control” over the Panjshir Valley in Afghanistan’s northeast earlier this month, the group has been accused of “widespread atrocities”, forcing many Afghans to flee the province – the last remaining enclave of resistance against the group’s rule.

The Haqqani Network And India’s Afghan Dilemma – Analysis

The Haqqani network derives its name from Jalaluddin Haqqani, who first fought against the Soviet army in Afghanistan, and later against the United States (US) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces. Following the death of Jalaluddin, the leadership of the group was assumed by his son, Sirajuddin, who is set to head the Interior Ministry, perhaps the most important ministerial position in the newly announced Afghan cabinet. India’s diplomatic presence in Afghan cities, whenever it is restored, will be under the direct watch of the Sirajuddin-led ministry. Obviously, this is far from comfortable for New Delhi.

International Union Of Muslim Scholars To Taliban Delegation: We Appreciate Your Jihad, Will Help You As Much As We Can In Establishing Islamic Rule

On September 18, 2021, the top leadership of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), which is sponsored by the Qatari Regime,[1] hosted in the organization’s headquarters in Doha a delegation on behalf of the Taliban’s government in Afghanistan, headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Mohammad ‘Abbas Stanikzai, which also included Taliban political bureau member Al-Mawlawi Muti’ Al-Haqq, political bureau English-language spokesperson Suhail Shaheen and another bureau spokesperson, Muhammad Na’eem. In the course of the meeting, IUMS officials, including the organization’s head Ahmad Al-Raissouni and its secretary-general ‘Ali Al-Qaradaghi, praised the Taliban government for its jihad and offered to extend it any help it needed in the management of state affairs. Deputy Foreign Minister Stanikzai thanked the IUMS for its support and asked for the guidance of its members in establishing an Islamic regime.

Are Syrian jihadis ready to take the fight to Afghanistan?

Afghanistan revives terror challenges for Washington; Russia anticipates security vacuum; Erdogan senses an opportunity.

Afghanistan: Islamic State appeals to “educated extremists”

The Biden administration has vowed retaliation against the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) for the Aug. 26 attack on the Kabul airport thath killed 13 US armed service members and over 90 Afghan civilians. More violence is likely. US Marine Corps Gen. and CENTCOM commander Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie said after the attack that “we expect those attacks to continue.”