The slain commander Zakir Ullah aka Abu Sher, was a chief of IS-KP’s Achin cell. IS- KP began its activities in Nangarhar in 2015 and designated “Achin” as its base for operations in the region. According to The Taliban‘s Intelligence sources “During a recent intelligence-based operation, Special Forces targeted an operational base of IS-KP, killing their chief and some of his associates”.

During the operation, the Special Forces also seized a large cache of modern weapons and ammunition. However, some IS-KP fighters managed to escape by taking advantage of the darkness of the night. The official declined to provide further details. Located on the border with Pakistan, Achin district is Afghanistan’s key eastern province of Nangarhar, which had been heavily contested by the Taliban, IS-KP, and US-led forces.

During a recent operation, Special Forces targeted an operational base of IS-KP in Nangarhar, resulting in the death of their chief and several associates.

During their presence in the region, US forces conducted frequent operations against IS-KP, resulting in the deaths of many of its top commanders. IS-KP has conducted various suicide attacks on security personnel and the minority Shiite community in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained power.

These attacks resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people, including key Taliban leaders and religious figures. One of the deadliest attacks by IS-KP was carried out in 2021 at Kabul International Airport during the withdrawal of US troops, resulting in the deaths of 170 Afghans, including US soldiers.

The incident was a tragic conclusion to the US longest war in history, resulting in the deaths of 13 US Marines in a single incident. The deceased Afghans were desperately seeking US assistance to escape the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul. However, a recent US military revealed that” The man who detonated a bomb outside the Kabul airport in August 2021, resulting in the deaths of 170 Afghans and 13 American service members, was identified as an Islamic State operative.

The report further revealed that “the bomber had previously been detained in a coalition detention facility in Afghanistan but was released by the Taliban, according to a new U.S. military review that has revealed his identity for the first time”. After the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) intensified its insurgency, launching a series of deadly attacks across the country.

IS-KP has been responsible for numerous deadly bombings and suicide attacks across Afghanistan, targeting both civilians and security forces.

IS-KP has targeted various groups, including Taliban forces, Afghan civilians, and minority communities, aiming to destabilize the new Taliban government and assert their influence. The suicide bombing amid the US withdrawal highlighted IS-KP’s capability to carry out large-scale operations in highly secured areas.

In October 2021, IS-KP carried out a deadly bombing at a Shia mosque in Kunduz during Friday prayers, killing over 50 worshippers and injuring scores. The attack underscored IS-KP’s intent to incite sectarian violence and target religious minorities. Another attack on a Shia mosque in Kandahar later that month resulted in at least 47 deaths, further exacerbating fears of sectarian strife.

IS-KP has also targeted Taliban security personnel and government officials in various provinces, employing tactics such as assassinations, bombings, and ambushes. In November 2021, a series of bombings in Kabul targeted Taliban vehicles, causing multiple casualties. These attacks demonstrated IS-KP’s continued ability to operate within the capital despite heightened security measures. Throughout 2022 and 2023, IS-KP continued its campaign of violence. In April 2022, a bombing at a boys’ school in a predominantly Hazara neighbourhood in Kabul killed at least six and wounded many others. This attack, along with others targeting educational institutions, aimed to sow fear and disrupt daily life.

The group has leveraged its media operations to claim responsibility for these attacks, propagating their extremist ideology and attempting to recruit disaffected individuals. Despite the Taliban’s efforts to root out IS-KP through military operations and intelligence efforts, the group remains a potent threat to Afghanistan’s security and stability. The persistent threat posed by IS-KP underscores the ongoing challenges the Taliban faces in maintaining control and ensuring security across Afghanistan. The group’s ability to conduct high-profile attacks and target a wide range of victims highlights the complexity of Afghanistan’s security landscape in the post-Taliban takeover era.

The Taliban have escalated their military operations against IS-KP, focusing particularly on Nangarhar province.

The Afghan Taliban also have been actively combating the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP), a regional affiliate of ISIS. They have launched numerous military operations targeting IS-KP strongholds, involving raids on hideouts that result in the capture or killing of IS-KP fighters. Additionally, the Taliban have ramped up security measures in areas known for IS-KP activity, including increased patrols, checkpoints, and intelligence operations aimed at disrupting IS-KP networks.

To enhance their efforts, the Taliban have improved their intelligence-gathering capabilities and, in some instances, reportedly collaborated with regional intelligence agencies to track and eliminate IS-KP operatives. Reliable sources indicate that the US has come to believe that IS-KP, rather than the TTP, poses a significant threat to its interests in the region. This time, bypassing Pakistan, to counter this threat, the US is directly engaging with the Afghan Taliban.

Sources recently claimed that” in May 2024, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officials were scheduled to meet with Top Afghan Taliban intelligence officials in Doha. The sources based in Kabul said that” the basic agenda of the meeting was bolstering collaboration and broadening the scope of US over-the-horizon unmanned aerial systems operations within Afghan airspace.”

In response to the IS-KP threat, the U.S. has initiated direct engagement with the Taliban to enhance security cooperation and counter-terrorism efforts.

The sources added, “The crucial meeting was convened at the behest of the CIA, with Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs overseeing its arrangements.” Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq, head of the Taliban’s intelligence services led the Afghan delegation that includes senior officials such as Mullah Noor Ul Haq Noor. Besides his role as a top negotiator for the Taliban, Noor is renowned for his negotiation skills and expertise in engaging with US intelligence. Wasiq, as the delegation leader, spent several years detained at the US Guantanamo Bay Naval Base (Gitmo) for hostile acts against US forces. He gained prominence as one of five prisoners exchanged in 2014 for US soldier Robert “Bowe” Bergdahl, who was captured by the Taliban in 2009. In terms of anonymity, A Kabul former Intel official revealed “The Taliban’s intelligence chief recently visited London and met with the MI-6 chief.”