Islamic State in Afghanistan 'under control', say Taliban
3 years, 1 month ago

Islamic State in Afghanistan 'under control', say Taliban

India Today  

Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers said Wednesday that the threat posed by the Islamic State group in the country was “more or less under control” despite recent bloody attacks that have killed dozens. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a news conference that IS was “not a great threat”, adding that around 600 members or sympathisers had been arrested since the Taliban seized control of the country in mid-August. A Sunni group like the Taliban, the Islamic State group is more extreme and advocates a “global jihad” rather than a national struggle. The group came to prominence when it proclaimed a caliphate in Syria in 2014, inspiring a number of offshoots elsewhere including “Khorasan”, a historical region spanning parts of modern-day Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Turkmenistan.

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History of this topic

At least 10 people killed in Afghanistan as gunman opens fire at Sufi shrine
1 month ago

At least 10 people killed in Afghanistan as gunman opens fire at Sufi shrine

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy At least 10 people were …

IS militants kill 14 in a Shiite area of Afghanistan in one of the deadliest attacks this year
3 months, 1 week ago

IS militants kill 14 in a Shiite area of Afghanistan in one of the deadliest attacks this year

Associated Press  

ISLAMABAD — Islamic State militants killed 14 people in a Shiite-majority area in central Afghanistan in one of the deadliest attacks in the country this year. The Islamic State groups affiliate in Afghanistan is a major rival to the Taliban and has challenged their authority by attacking schools, hospitals, mosques and Shiite areas over the past three years. The Taliban’s …

Afghans still counting costs of US intervention
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Afghans still counting costs of US intervention

China Daily  

Afghan boys harvest potatoes at a field in Baharak district, Badakhshan Province, on Thursday. In mid-August, the Afghan caretaker government's acting minister for industry and commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, said that more than $7 billion had been invested in Afghanistan over the past three years, of which $500 million was invested in the industry sector, Afghan media outlet Tolonews reported. Mullah …

Afghans still counting costs of US intervention
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Afghans still counting costs of US intervention

China Daily  

Afghan boys harvest potatoes at a field in Baharak district, Badakhshan Province, on Thursday. In mid-August, the Afghan caretaker government's acting minister for industry and commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, said that more than $7 billion had been invested in Afghanistan over the past three years, of which $500 million was invested in the industry sector, Afghan media outlet Tolonews reported. Mullah …

The Taliban have ruled Afghanistan for 3 years. Here are 5 things to know
4 months, 1 week ago

The Taliban have ruled Afghanistan for 3 years. Here are 5 things to know

Associated Press  

KABUL, Afghanistan — It’s been three years since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. Despite no international recognition as the country’s official rulers, the Taliban enjoy high-level meetings with major regional powers like China and Russia. The Taliban’s legitimacy to govern doesn’t come from Afghans but from their interpretation of religion and culture, said Leena Rikkila Tamang with the International …

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers score diplomatic wins, consolidate power
4 months, 1 week ago

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers score diplomatic wins, consolidate power

The Hindu  

Three years into its rule of Afghanistan, the Taliban government has achieved some diplomatic wins even as it has consolidated power and enforced its strict version of Islamic law. Chief Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, who led the delegation, said the gathering was further proof that: "Afghanistan has come out of isolation". "We are in favour of positive meetings with …

Afghanistan under Taliban remains ‘permissive haven’ for al-Qaeda: UNSC report
5 months, 1 week ago

Afghanistan under Taliban remains ‘permissive haven’ for al-Qaeda: UNSC report

Hindustan Times  

NEW DELHI: Many nations have concerns about Afghanistan being a source of insecurity for the region even as the country continues to be used by al-Qaeda as a “permissive haven” under the Taliban, according to a new United Nations Security Council report. Taliban security personnel stand guard near a poppy field in Argo district on May 12, 2024 The Islamic …

The Islamic State group says it was behind a mosque attack in Afghanistan that killed 6 people
7 months, 3 weeks ago

The Islamic State group says it was behind a mosque attack in Afghanistan that killed 6 people

Associated Press  

ISLAMABAD — The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a deadly shooting this week targeting members of the country’s minority Shiite community inside a mosque in western Afghanistan that killed six people. The militant group said in a statement posted on its Telegram website late on Tuesday that one of its members attacked a “Shiite temple” in Herat province …

Islamic State claims responsibility for mosque shooting in western Afghanistan that killed six people
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Islamic State claims responsibility for mosque shooting in western Afghanistan that killed six people

India TV News  

Herat: The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a deadly shooting this week targeting members of Afghanistan's minority Shiite community inside a mosque in western Herat that resulted in the deaths of six people. The western Herat province, which borders Iran, is predominantly home to the Shiite religious minority, which has been on the receiving end of some of the …

Gunman kills at least six in attack on mosque in Afghanistan’s Herat
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Gunman kills at least six in attack on mosque in Afghanistan’s Herat

Al Jazeera  

The ISIL armed group claimed responsibility for the attack in the Guzara district in Herat province. Ministry of Interior Affairs spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani said “an unknown armed person shot at civilian worshippers in a mosque” at about 9pm on Monday in Andisheh town of Guzara district in Herat province. A United Nations Security Council report released in January said …

Can ISIS-K carry out Moscow-style attack on American soil? US official warns ‘they are bold and they hate us’
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Can ISIS-K carry out Moscow-style attack on American soil? US official warns ‘they are bold and they hate us’

Hindustan Times  

Days after the Islamic State Khorasan Province carried out an attack on Moscow's concert hall, a US counter-terrorism official warned that ISIS-K could carry out a similar strike on the American soil by crossing country's border. Stressing that the US authorities are considering the threat of a domestic ISIS-K attack "very seriously", the counterterrorism officer said: “They hate us, and …

Islamic State group claims responsibility for an explosion in Afghanistan, killing four
1 year, 1 month ago

Islamic State group claims responsibility for an explosion in Afghanistan, killing four

The Hindu  

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for an explosion in a Shiite Muslim neighbourhood in Afghanistan's capital Kabul that killed at least four people. Seven others were critically wounded in the attack on October 26, according to Khalid Zadran, a spokesman for the Kabul police chief. Islamic State affiliates claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on Friday through …

Has Afghanistan Turned into a Sanctuary for Jihadist Groups?
1 year, 2 months ago

Has Afghanistan Turned into a Sanctuary for Jihadist Groups?

The Diplomat  

August 15 marked two years since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, following the U.S. withdrawal and the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani regime. Hence, the Taliban’s complex relations with different militant groups are an important vector in understanding how the jihadist challenge is evolving in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. In the second year of Taliban rule, the ISKP’s attacks in Afghanistan have …

'Afghanistan headed for civil war with Taliban splitting into...:' Ex-commander
1 year, 3 months ago

'Afghanistan headed for civil war with Taliban splitting into...:' Ex-commander

India Today  

Two years after the US forces abruptly left Kabul, Afghanistan is headed towards a civil war, the Taliban is now riddled with factionalism, and the country is fast becoming a safe haven for foreign terrorists, a former Afghan commander has said. "I believe that the situation in Afghanistan is very critical and dangerous and it's going in a dangerous direction, …

Islamic State group still has thousands in Syria and Iraq and poses Afghan threat, UN experts say
1 year, 4 months ago

Islamic State group still has thousands in Syria and Iraq and poses Afghan threat, UN experts say

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — The Islamic State group still commands between 5,000 and 7,000 members across its former stronghold in Syria and Iraq and its fighters pose the most serious terrorist threat in Afghanistan today, U.N. experts said in a report circulated Monday. The experts monitoring sanctions against the militant group, also known by its Arab acronym Daesh, said that during …

Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, more than 1,000 civilians were killed in attacks, UN says
1 year, 5 months ago

Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, more than 1,000 civilians were killed in attacks, UN says

Associated Press  

ISLAMABAD — The United Nations said Tuesday it has documented a significant level of civilians killed and wounded in attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover — despite a stark reduction in casualties compared to previous years of war and insurgency. According to the U.N. report, three-quarters of the attacks since the Taliban seized power were with improvised explosive devices …

Taliban slams US report on rising threats in Afghanistan
1 year, 6 months ago

Taliban slams US report on rising threats in Afghanistan

Al Jazeera  

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says the country is enjoying its greatest stability of the past 40 years. The Taliban has rejected a United States watchdog’s report saying foreign armed groups and domestic security threats have increased in Afghanistan since the group took over the country in a blitzkrieg in August 2021. “We strongly reject SIGAR’s propaganda,” the Taliban’s chief spokesman, …

Kabul airport attack 'mastermind' killed by Taliban, US officials say
1 year, 7 months ago

Kabul airport attack 'mastermind' killed by Taliban, US officials say

India Today  

The Taliban have killed an Islamic State militant who was the "mastermind" behind a suicide attack at Kabul's international airport in 2021 that killed 13 U.S. troops and scores of civilians during the United States' chaotic evacuation from the country, US officials said on Tuesday. The bombing occurred on August 26, 2021, as US troops were trying to help Americans …

Taliban kill 'ISIS-mastermind' behind Kabul airport attack that massacred 170 including 13 US troops
1 year, 7 months ago

Taliban kill 'ISIS-mastermind' behind Kabul airport attack that massacred 170 including 13 US troops

India TV News  

Nearly 18 months after the Taliban extremists took over the Kabul Airport and killed 170 desperate civilians and 13 US troops, the Biden administration on Tuesday claimed the mastermind behind the attack was killed. But in the past few days, US intelligence confirmed “with high confidence” that the Islamic State leader had been killed, a senior administration official said. US …

In Afghanistan, Taliban Face a Growing Threat in ISKP
1 year, 8 months ago

In Afghanistan, Taliban Face a Growing Threat in ISKP

The Diplomat  

In the morning hours of March 9 in Mazar-i-Sharif, a suicide bomber blew himself up inside the second-floor office of Mohammad Dawood Muzammil, the Taliban governor of Afghanistan’s Balkh province. At least 16 attacks carried out by ISKP between August 2021 and September 2022 on the minority Shia Hazara community in places of worships, schools, and workplaces – killing over …

Afghan Taliban raid kills 6 members of Islamic State group
1 year, 8 months ago

Afghan Taliban raid kills 6 members of Islamic State group

Associated Press  

ISLAMABAD — An overnight raid by Taliban forces in Afghanistan’s northern Balkh province killed six members of the extremist Islamic State group, a Taliban spokesman said Tuesday. The regional affiliate of the IS group — known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province — has been the key rival of the Taliban since their takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. …

Taliban carries out deadly raid on ISIL hideout in Afghanistan
1 year, 8 months ago

Taliban carries out deadly raid on ISIL hideout in Afghanistan

Al Jazeera  

A police spokesman says an ISIL hideout in Nahri Shahi district was targeted and six fighters were killed. Taliban forces have killed six members of the ISIL armed group in Afghanistan’s northern Balkh province during an overnight raid, a Taliban spokesman said on Tuesday. The raid comes as the Taliban rulers crack down on the regional affiliate of the ISIL …

World faces tough choices in dealing with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan
1 year, 9 months ago

World faces tough choices in dealing with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

The Hindu  

Published : Mar 22, 2023 14:24 IST - 7 MINS READ On the third anniversary of the Doha Agreement, signed on February 29, 2020, between the United States and the Afghan Taliban, US spokesperson Ned Price said that the Afghan Taliban were empowered by the agreement. The Afghan Taliban, in its statement, celebrated the day on which the US-led foreign …

Top Islamic State commanders killed by Taliban forces in Afghanistan
1 year, 9 months ago

Top Islamic State commanders killed by Taliban forces in Afghanistan

India Today  

The Taliban government in Afghanistan said its security forces killed two key Islamic State commanders during a counter-terrorism raid in capital Kabul a few days ago. One of the slain terrorists was Qari Fateh, touted as the intelligence chief and a former minister of war of the Islamic State-Khorasan Province, said Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. Mujahid said Qari Fateh was …

Afghanistan remains primary source of terrorist threat for Central and South Asia: UN report
1 year, 10 months ago

Afghanistan remains primary source of terrorist threat for Central and South Asia: UN report

The Hindu  

Afghanistan remains the primary source of terrorist threat for Central and South Asia, with groups such as ISIL-K, Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan enjoying greater freedom of movement in the country owing to the absence of an effective Taliban security strategy, a UN report has said. These groups enjoy greater freedom of movement in Afghanistan owing to the absence of …

Muslim nations call for human rights in Afghanistan as Taliban enforces Islamic Sharia laws
1 year, 10 months ago

Muslim nations call for human rights in Afghanistan as Taliban enforces Islamic Sharia laws

Firstpost  

Dubai: With most of the world watching appalled as the Taliban imposes Islamic rule in Afghanistan, several Muslim countries have urged the ruling regime in Kabul to tone down its radical Islamist tendencies. Writing for Pakistani publication ‘The Dawn’, columnist Mohammed Amir Rana claimed that Pakistan has joined a host of Muslim countries in distancing itself from the Taliban rulers …

Taliban says eight ISIL fighters killed in raids in Afghanistan
1 year, 11 months ago

Taliban says eight ISIL fighters killed in raids in Afghanistan

Al Jazeera  

The raids follow a series of attacks conducted by ISIL, including a deadly bombing near a checkpoint in Kabul. Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban has killed eight ISIL fighters and arrested several others in a series of raids targeting key figures in a spate of attacks in Kabul, a senior Taliban government spokesman has said. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday …

Multiple blasts heard in Afghanistan's capital Kabul; no official comment yet: Report
1 year, 11 months ago

Multiple blasts heard in Afghanistan's capital Kabul; no official comment yet: Report

India TV News  

Kabul blasts: Afghanistan's capital Kabul, on Wednesday, was reportedly rocked by several blasts in the city, According to TOLO News, multiple blasts were heard in the country's capital city. The latest incident came barely three days after at least 10 people were killed and eight others seriously injured in an explosion that occurred at the Kabul military airport, on January …

Afghanistan used to launch attacks on Pakistan: Defence minister
1 year, 11 months ago

Afghanistan used to launch attacks on Pakistan: Defence minister

Al Jazeera  

Pakistan says no country will be allowed to shelter armed groups staging attacks against it as Kabul reject the charges. Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s defence minister has alleged that Afghanistan’s soil is being used by armed groups to launch attacks on his country, prompting a sharp response from Taliban government in Kabul which called the allegation “incorrect” and “regrettable”. ‘Provocative …

Taliban’s ideologies are alien to Afghanistan: Ahmad Massoud
2 years ago

Taliban’s ideologies are alien to Afghanistan: Ahmad Massoud

The Hindu  

At 33, Ahmad Massoud’s bears the likeness of his father, albeit not the ruggedness of the ‘Lion of Panjshir’, Ahmad Shah Massoud, who famously fought the Taliban in the 1990s, and was killed by the Al-Qaeda just two days before the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. Massoud, his father’s only son, went to school in Iran, attended university in the …

Terrorists in Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan
2 years, 2 months ago

Terrorists in Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan

The Diplomat  

In October 2021, the U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, Dr. Colin Kahl, testified before the U.S. Congress on the status of security in Afghanistan. When asked about the potential resurgence of international terrorism emanating from the country, Kahl responded that the U.S. intelligence community assessed both al-Qaida and the Islamic State’s “Khorasan” branch “have the intent to conduct external …

Taliban kill six Islamic State members in raid in Afghan capital
2 years, 2 months ago

Taliban kill six Islamic State members in raid in Afghan capital

Hindustan Times  

Taliban security forces killed six Islamic State members in an overnight operation in the Afghan capital, Kabul, a spokesman for the ruling group's administration said on Saturday. The Islamic State members killed in the raid on their hideout were involved in two major attacks in recent weeks, one on a city mosque and the other on a tutoring institute in …

Death toll in last week’s Kabul school blast climbs to 52
2 years, 2 months ago

Death toll in last week’s Kabul school blast climbs to 52

Associated Press  

ISLAMABAD — Last week’s suicide bombing at a Kabul education center killed as many as 52 people, more than twice the death toll acknowledged by Taliban officials, according to a tally compiled by The Associated Press on Monday. Taliban security officials initially said 19 people had been killed, then revised the death toll to 25 over the weekend. Khalid Zadran, …

Afghan minority groups face threats from ISKP: HRW
2 years, 3 months ago

Afghan minority groups face threats from ISKP: HRW

Al Jazeera  

The rights group says the Taliban has failed to protect Hazaras and other at-risk communities. An affiliate of the ISIL armed group in Afghanistan has targeted Hazaras – a predominantly Shia Muslim ethnic group – and other minorities, in a wave of attacks at mosques, schools and workplaces, undermining the Taliban’s promise of greater security, the Human Rights Watch said …

At least 18 killed including senior cleric in Afghan mosque blast
2 years, 3 months ago

At least 18 killed including senior cleric in Afghan mosque blast

The Hindu  

An explosion tore through a crowded mosque in western Afghanistan on September 2, 2022, killing at least 18 people, including a prominent cleric, Taliban officials and a local medic said. The explosion killed Mujib-ul Rahman Ansari, a prominent cleric who was known across Afghanistan for his criticism of the country's Western-backed governments over the past two decades. Previous mosque attacks …

Op-Ed: What does Afghanistan look like after one year of Taliban rule?
2 years, 4 months ago

Op-Ed: What does Afghanistan look like after one year of Taliban rule?

LA Times  

One year after the United States withdrew from Afghanistan, the country is an even more dangerous place. With the Taliban back in power since mid-August of last year, and its Al Qaeda allies getting a new lease on life, the situation in Afghanistan will get worse before it gets better. As Afghanistan becomes more of a permissive environment for terrorist …

Key events since Taliban takeover of Afghanistan a year ago
2 years, 4 months ago

Key events since Taliban takeover of Afghanistan a year ago

Al Jazeera  

The group made a stunning return to power on August 15 last year as the US-led forces withdrew from the country after two decades. The Taliban stormed back to power a year ago as the United States-led forces withdrew from the country, two decades after first removing the regime. Here are the key events of the past 12 months: Taliban …

Taliban under scrutiny as U.S. kills al-Qaeda leader in Kabul
2 years, 4 months ago

Taliban under scrutiny as U.S. kills al-Qaeda leader in Kabul

The Hindu  

The U.S. drone strike that killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri on the balcony of a Kabul safe house intensified global scrutiny on August 2 of Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers and further undermined their efforts to secure international recognition and desperately needed aid. The safe house where al-Zawahri was staying in Kabul’s upscale Shirpur neighbourhood was the home of a top aide …

Islamic State terror group claims attack on Sikh gurdwara in Kabul
2 years, 6 months ago

Islamic State terror group claims attack on Sikh gurdwara in Kabul

India Today  

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the deadly terror attack on a gurdwara here in Afghanistan that killed two persons, including one Sikh community member, calling it "an act of support" for the Prophet. In a statement posted on its Amaq propaganda site, the Islamic State Khorasan Province, an affiliate of the Islamic State militant group, said the attack …

One killed, several wounded in Afghan mosque bombing: Police
2 years, 6 months ago

One killed, several wounded in Afghan mosque bombing: Police

Al Jazeera  

Dozens of people had gathered at the mosque for Friday prayers when an explosive device detonated, police said. An explosion at a mosque in Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz province has killed at least one worshipper and wounded seven others, a Taliban official said. Dozens of people had gathered inside the mosque in the district of Imam Sahib for Friday prayers when …

UN: Taliban faces threat from Islamic State, new resistance
2 years, 6 months ago

UN: Taliban faces threat from Islamic State, new resistance

The Hindu  

Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers are maintaining close ties with al-Qaida as they consolidate control over the country, and their main military threat is coming from the Islamic State extremist group and guerrilla-style attacks by former Afghan government security personnel, UN experts said in a new report. “Further stresses revolve around power, resources, and regional and ethnic divisions.” Despite these serious issues, …

Militants in Afghanistan strike Pakistan army post, kill three
2 years, 8 months ago

Militants in Afghanistan strike Pakistan army post, kill three

The Hindu  

Militants in Afghanistan fired heavy weapons across the border into a Pakistani military outpost overnight, killing three personnel, the army said on April 23, in the latest violence to rattle the volatile region. The striking increase in attacks in Afghanistan — as well as in neighbouring Pakistan — highlights the growing security challenge facing Afghanistan's Taliban rulers, who swept to …

Can the Afghan Taliban contain the threat from ISIL?
2 years, 8 months ago

Can the Afghan Taliban contain the threat from ISIL?

Al Jazeera  

Series of bombings in Afghanistan highlight security challenges since Taliban seized power in August. The Afghan Taliban says it has arrested the so-called “mastermind” of a bomb attack on a mosque. A United Nations report last month found that ISIL was behind more than 80 percent of attacks since the Taliban takeover last year. Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom Guests: Faiz Zaland …

Islamic State morphs and grows in Pakistan, Afghanistan
2 years, 8 months ago

Islamic State morphs and grows in Pakistan, Afghanistan

Associated Press  

JALALABAD, Afghanistan — Basheer was a young Taliban fighter barely out of his teens when the Islamic State group took over his village in eastern Afghanistan, nearly eight years ago. Since coming to power in Afghanistan eight months ago, the Taliban have touted their success in repressing the Islamic State group, but the militants have expanded into neighboring Pakistan, stepping …

\'Terrorist groups\' enjoy freedom in Afghanistan: UN experts
2 years, 10 months ago

\'Terrorist groups\' enjoy freedom in Afghanistan: UN experts

Deccan Chronicle  

United Nations: Al-Qaida's past ties to the recently empowered Taliban have the potential of making Afghanistan a safe haven for extremists, and “terrorist groups enjoy greater freedom there than at any time in recent history,” U.N. experts said in a report circulated Monday. But the panel of experts said “there are no recent signs that the Taliban has taken steps …

U.N. says over 100 ex-Afghan forces and officials have been killed since Taliban takeover
2 years, 10 months ago

U.N. says over 100 ex-Afghan forces and officials have been killed since Taliban takeover

LA Times  

Afghan National Army personnel march during a 2020 graduation ceremony. He added that despite Taliban assurances, the U.N. political mission has also received credible allegations “of enforced disappearances and other violations impacting the right to life and physical integrity” of former government and coalition members. Guterres said human rights defenders and media workers also continue “to come under attack, intimidation, …

Taliban find it easy to win Kabul but difficult to rule as Afghans face one of the worst humanitarian crises ever
2 years, 11 months ago

Taliban find it easy to win Kabul but difficult to rule as Afghans face one of the worst humanitarian crises ever

Firstpost  

As winter advances, there are serious shortages of food, medicines and drinking water everywhere in Afghanistan “Conquering the world on horseback is easy; it is dismounting and governing that is hard.” ― Genghis Khan As Taliban get off their horse, it’s time for them to govern, and that is the most difficult part. Humanitarian crisis According to the UN’s World …

Taliban seek ties with US, other ex-foes
3 years ago

Taliban seek ties with US, other ex-foes

India Today  

Afghanistan’s new Taliban rulers are committed in principle to education and jobs for girls and women, a marked departure from their previous time in power, and they seek the world’s “mercy and compassion” to help millions of Afghans in desperate need, a top Taliban leader said in a rare interview. “Making Afghanistan unstable or having a weak Afghan government is …

Despite mistrust, Afghan Shiites seek Taliban protection
3 years, 1 month ago

Despite mistrust, Afghan Shiites seek Taliban protection

Associated Press  

KABUL, Afghanistan — Outside a Shiite shrine in Kabul, four armed Taliban fighters stood guard on a recent Friday as worshippers filed in for weekly prayers. “We can’t even tell if they are Taliban or Daesh,” he said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. “In comparison to their previous rule, the Taliban are a little better,” said …

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