Security

ISIS-K's recent attacks fuel distrust among Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan

By Omar

Afghan security personnel stand guard last July in Kabul. [Wakil Kohsar / AFP]

Afghan security personnel stand guard last July in Kabul. [Wakil Kohsar / AFP]

HERAT -- Recent attacks by the Khorasan branch of the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS-K) in Afghanistan and neighboring countries have incited distrust and tension between Afghanistan and its neighbors, including Pakistan and Tajikistan.

ISIS-K employs a complex method: recruiting fighters from one country, using a second country as a safe haven and turning a third country into a transit route for carrying out its attacks, the Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported last week.

This strategy by ISIS has created disagreements among Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan, leading to accusation swapping by officials of these countries.

Further feuding between Afghanistan and its neighbors benefits ISIS, allowing the group to expand its activities in the region, particularly in Afghanistan, said Abdul Qader Kamel, a political analyst in Herat city.

"ISIS wants to fish in troubled waters. The more cooperation and trust decline among neighboring countries, the stronger ISIS becomes, and its influence grows," Kamel said.

"To suppress ISIS, regional and global cooperation is needed. Afghanistan and its neighbors should mobilize against ISIS instead of fanning mistrust and tension," he added.

Escalating regional conflict

ISIS's goal is not only to incite discord among these neighboring countries but conflict as well. In this regard, ISIS-K has had some success.

Fueling rancor between Afghanistan and its neighboring countries makes it easier for ISIS-K to achieve its goals, said Hamza Baloch, a military analyst based in Nimroz province.

"The activities of terrorist groups like ISIS-K and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan have significantly damaged Afghanistan's relations with Pakistan unlike any other time. These countries need to jointly fight against these threats," he said.

"One strategy to combat ISIS threats is to calm relations between Afghanistan and its neighbors. In this regard, Tajikistan plays a crucial role as a significant number of ISIS-K members are Tajik citizens," Baloch added.

Twenty years after 9/11, al-Qaeda intends to turn Afghanistan once again into a hub for planning and organizing terrorist attacks on other countries, Ahmad Zia Saraj, former director of the Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS), previously warned.

The Dawn report continues to suggest that ISIS-K follows a pattern similar to al-Qaeda's.

"The ISKP [ISIS-K] seems intent on using the region as a staging ground for large-scale attacks in the US or Europe," the paper wrote.

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- The grievance that the Indian Pashtun ruler Jalaluddin Ghilji had against his dear nephew Alauddin Ghilji, whom he killed for power. - The grievance that Ibrahim Lodi had against his uncle Alam Khan Lodi and close friend Daulat Khan Lodi, who helped Babur in overthrowing, killing him, and ending Pashtun rule. - Khushal Khan's grievance against all Pashtuns, especially his son Bahram, who stood with the Mughals against him. - The grievance that Mirwais Khan had against his brother Abdul Aziz, who was involved in his assassination. - The grievance that Shah Mahmood Hotak, the conqueror of Isfahan, had against his uncle's son, Shah Ashraf Hotak, who was involved in his murder. - The grievance that Shah Ashraf Hotak had against Shah Hussain Hotak, who sent people to kill him instead of providing support or refuge against Nader Afshar. - Ahmad Shah Baba's grievance against his close friends who rebelled against him in Kandahar during the Indian wars. - The grievance the Sadozai rulers had against each other during the blinding and losing power.

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The causes, environment, and consequences of this incident and tragedy in our struggle for rights encompass numerous factors that I hope will be carefully examined and used to determine the path and illuminate the journey. Here, I want to focus on one point: the late Hazrat Naeem's choice of pen name. He felt himself aggrieved and embarked on an eternal journey with this grievance. Silent are the rulers and clerics during the massacre of the Pashtuns. My grievance against you knows no bounds. (Gilaman Pashtun). In Gilaman's poetry, the spirit of grievance is repeatedly felt in various forms. As grievances often stem from one's own, Gilaman's references are mostly directed toward his people, while he relatively used clear and direct mentions of others. He understood that the awareness and unity of his people were more important than others, as the first line of threat had reached among his people. Another's arrow has not shot me, but if I have been shot, it is by my gun. (Khushal Baba). These same Pashtuns came after him, and with youthful aspirations and high hopes, they killed him while having his heart full of longings. Even his death became a tremendous but silent grievance, a grievance that millions of people silently escorted in his passing. Since hearing the news of the incident, I have thought that the spirit of Gilaman's poetry, the choice of his pen name, and the tragedy of separation embody the grievance of our thousand-year documented history.

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The struggle of Hazrat Naeem Wazir, also known as Gilaman Pashtun, within the Pashtun Protection Movement, the reactions of the oppressive regime towards him, and his untimely death are significant events in our history. The mourning of Gilaman's separation is a great tragedy for Afghans worldwide, and his heavy funeral is unprecedented in our history. The martyrdom of a fluent poet, brave fighter, and conscious leader in his early youth is a significant loss. It is an irreplaceable void for his family, the people of the late leader, his aspirations, the movement's comrades, and his fans, and a pain that cannot be imagined being healed. May the Almighty God make his eternal journey beautiful. However, Gilaman's unprecedented popularity, the increase in sympathy for him, the growing support for his aspirations, and the unity of people from both sides of the Durand Line to such an extent that the signs of the line have been erased, as well as the Afghan national tricolor flag draped over his body, are honors that would have immensely pleased his soul. If the martyrdom of Naqeebullah Masood opened the way for the growth of the Pashtun Protection Movement, the martyrdom of Ghilaman would play an even more significant role in reaching its destination. On the other hand, the Pashtun Protection Movement has again proven that the blood of those people who were once killed in the thousands or disappeared without a trace and anyone questioning now has a price and avengers. Million

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Very well

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All countries must prevent terrorist groups such as ISIS, Al-Qaida, Israeli forces, etc.

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