KABUL -- A majority of Afghans are concerned about recent attacks carried out by the Khorasan branch of the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS-K), an online poll conducted by Salaam Times shows.
Out of more than 3,500 responses between May 31 and June 26, over 65% said they are "very" concerned and over 10% said they were "a little" concerned about recent ISIS attacks and activities in Afghanistan.
Just under 13% said they were "not at all" concerned.
Poll respondents came from almost all provinces of Afghanistan. To see the poll results or to vote, click here.
![A majority of Salaam Times poll respondents between May 31 and June 26 said they were concerned about ISIS attacks in Afghanistan. [Salaam Times]](/cnmi_st/images/2024/06/27/46957-dari_poll-585_329.jpg)
A majority of Salaam Times poll respondents between May 31 and June 26 said they were concerned about ISIS attacks in Afghanistan. [Salaam Times]
Public concern
Readers on Salaam Times' social media accounts denounced ISIS's recent attacks.
Mohammad Hashemi, a resident of Ghor province, expressed concern about ISIS activities in his province, stating that the group frequently kills innocent Afghans.
"In recent years, Shia citizens in Ghor province have repeatedly been targeted by ISIS attacks," he wrote on Facebook.
ISIS is attempting to sow division through its attacks, said Kabul resident Mohammad Bahir. However, he emphasized that Afghans are aware of these efforts and that ISIS's attempts have failed.
Mohammad Wali Shah, from Khost province, agreed.
"ISIS is an enemy of Afghanistan and carries out these attacks to create division and insecurity," Wali Shah wrote.
Mohammad Nozadi from Kandahar said that individuals who assault and shed blood for ISIS must be punished.
Increasing threats
ISIS-K carried out six attacks in Afghanistan between February 28 and May 15, the United Nations said in a June 13 report.
These attacks, which have claimed dozens of lives, occurred in Kabul, Herat and Kandahar provinces.
The increase in ISIS's terrorism in Afghanistan has raised concern in the international community.
Representatives of several countries at a special session of the United Nations Security Council June 21 described ISIS activities in Afghanistan as a serious threat to global security.
Hamza Baloch, a military analyst in Nimroz province, said ISIS's threats in Afghanistan have escalated and that the group must be stopped.
"Recent ISIS attacks indicate that this group has increased its infiltration in certain parts of the country," he told Salaam Times. "The threat posed by ISIS cannot be ignored, and measures must be taken to curb its activities."
"ISIS is able to launch complex and dangerous attacks, and has repeatedly targeted civilians," he said. "If ISIS threats are not contained, the group will likely escalate."
The poor Afghans have been victims of the policies of superpowers throughout history, because all our politicians are mercenaries and puppets.
Reply2 Comment
Please do not undermine the rights of the Pashto language. I am a regular reader of Salam Times. While your stance is correct in many areas, the screenshot you included in the report regarding the survey is not in Pashto. Please delete this screenshot and replace it with a Pashto survey screenshot. Since the beginning of Babrak Karmal's reign in Afghanistan in 1358 AH (1979), the Russians have taken actions against the Pashto language that have sowed seeds of discord between Pashtuns and non-Pashtuns. Russian efforts nurtured this seed. Iran watered it and turned it into plants of discord. It seems that this foul odor of discord has now spread to the colleagues at Salam Times, who are treating the Pashto language so poorly. Respectfully, Mohammad Azam
Reply2 Comment