The current Taliban regime of Afghanistan under the name of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IAG), has presented itself as a divinely ordained legitimate government proclaiming its actions as a true reflection of Islamic principles and ideology yet being criticized by global scholars, human rights organizations and broader Muslim community.
Where IAG’s ideological narrative augments anti-Pakistan sentiment, labelling Pakistan as a destabilizing force in the region; it clearly ignores its own oppressive rule and manouvers both national and international perceptions, also it is equally alarming for the region to witness the growth of the Islamic State Khurasan Province (ISKP) in Afghanistan.

It poses a significant threat not only to IAG but also to the overall security of the region. According to reliable sources, recently a meeting was held in January 2025 in Kunar District by ISKP commander Gull Nazim also known as Molvi Zakir. The meeting discussed the increase in terrorist activities against IAG in Afghanistan, strengthening of their control over Kunar and Nangarhar provinces and planning for the assassination of certain Afghan Taliban leaders.

Consistently ISKP scope of violence is increasing where its expansion of influence is not only a problem for the Taliban regime but also has global implications

Activity of the ISKP has traditionally been concentrated in Kabul and in the country’s eastern provinces, notably Kunar and Nangarhar where the group continued to have a strong foothold, especially in rural areas. In November 2021, the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan remarked that ISKP appeared to have a presence in nearly all provinces. The bulk of ISKP fighters is reportedly present in rural Kunar, Nangarhar and possibly Nuristan provinces. Consistently ISKP scope of violence is increasing where its expansion of influence is not only a problem for the Taliban regime but also has global implications, and it has been behind multiple plots in Europe, and seeks to develop the capability to strike in the United States as well as attack the United States’ strategic competitors, both China and Russia.

With transnational membership and ambitions, ISKP has carried out numerous attacks targeting civilians, the Afghan Taliban leaders, aiming to undermine Taliban control and promote its extremist agenda. ISKP is a threat to all governments in the region, including the Taliban regime, Pakistan, Iran, Central Asian states, and India. Most of its attacks since its emergence in 2015 have been in Afghanistan and, to a lesser extent, in Pakistan, but the group has also launched multiple small-scale attacks in Iran, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in recent years.

After the Taliban takeover in August 2021, ISKP shifted its focus to undermining the Taliban’s legitimacy. Since then, it has reportedly targeted Taliban security convoys, checkpoints and personnel while assassinating civilians of various profiles. It also continued to conduct large-scale attacks, in particular targeting Shia Hazaras. During the year 2022, starting from 1 January to 21 May, there were documented attacks by the group in 11 provinces compared to 6 provinces over the same period in 2021.

As of June 2022, new areas of ISKP activity included parts of northern and western Afghanistan (e.g. Kunduz, Balkh, Farah, and Herat), as well as southern and south-eastern provinces like Kandahar, Paktya, and Parwan. During the period August 2021 – May 2022 ISKP conducted several large high-profile attacks, including an attack on Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport and attacks on Shia mosques in the cities of Kunduz and Kandahar, a military hospital in Kabul, a Shia Mosque in Mazar-e Sharif and a series of bombings in Mazar-e Sharif and Kabul.

Multiple attacks in Mazar-e Sharif and Kunduz cities showed that ISKP had improved its ability to operate and carry out attacks in northern Afghanistan

With a decrease in large-scale attacks seen in late 2021 and the first months of 2022 comparatively, the group re-escalated its attacks in April and May 2022. Multiple attacks in Mazar-e Sharif and Kunduz cities showed that ISKP had improved its ability to operate and carry out attacks in northern Afghanistan.

The violence and brutality of ISKP against Afghan civilians is deeply concerning and signifies how the group continues to be a source of substantial insecurity for the region. ISKP attacks in Kabul and in the north mainly hit civilian targets, while its attacks in other parts of the country targeted the Taliban.

The volatile security situation in Afghanistan affects neighboring countries like Pakistan, Iran, and the Central Asian states, heightening their concerns over potential cross-border terrorist threats. The international community has become increasingly alarmed at the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, and the continued presence of groups like ISKP and the resurgence of TTP is a significant concern as highlighted by United Nations Monitoring Team report.

The Taliban rightly sees ISKP as a threat to its regime. Indeed, ISKP has long devoted most of its rage towards the Taliban, despite its international objectives. After taking over Afghanistan, the Taliban regime initially adopted a heavy-handed approach to countering the group, which included crackdowns on Salafist communities.

More recently, the Taliban have had some successes in targeting ISKP operatives, including killing a senior operative who was responsible for the group’s attacks in Kabul, conducting raids, and reportedly infiltrating the group. It is high time for IAG to address the ISKP threat head-on, prioritize national security, and refuse to support groups like TTP that threaten regional peace. The Taliban must prioritize this fight, for the safety of their people and the peace of the region.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of Streathia.