Terrorist group ISIL-K issues warnings of impending attacks on embassies of India, China, and Iran in Afghanistan, as reported by the United Nations.
**In a report by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, it's revealed that the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISIL-K) continue to pose a significant terrorist threat in Central and South Asia. The group has made it clear they intend to carry out external operations and have chosen to intimidate diplomatic missions from India, Iran, China, and the Islamic Republic of Iran in Afghanistan.
The ISIL-K appears to be challenging the Taliban rule in Afghanistan, perhaps aiming to paint them as incompetent in providing protection. By targeting diplomatic institutions, they aim to damage the relationship between the Taliban and the participating states in the region.
On Thursday, the UN Security Council will convene a meeting to discuss global peace and security threats caused by terrorism. Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, will present the previously issued report addressing these concerns.
According to the report, an attack on the Russian Consular Office in Kabul in September 2015 marked the first assault on a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power. In response, ISIL-K undertook near-daily attacks on the Shia minority, intentionally weakening the Taliban's authority and testing their incipient security forces.
The UN member states in Central and South Asia estimate the current strength of ISIL-K between 1,000 and 3,000 fighters, while some other states believe the numbers might reach as high as 6,000. The group maintains a primary presence in eastern Kunar, Nangarhar, and Nuristan Provinces, but a significant cell remains active in Kabul and its surroundings.
Furthermore, Balkh, one of the most economically prosperous districts in the north, is of particular interest to ISIL-K due to its revenue-generating potential. Reports suggest that the group has begun to smuggle narcotics, which could signify a new development in their funding strategies.
ISIL-K's media organization, Voice of Khorasan, publishes propaganda in Pashto, Persian, Tajik, Uzbek, and Russian, aimed at recruiting ethnic groups in the region to bolster its strength. It has been reported that there is cooperation between the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and ISIL-K, with jointly released Uighur-language propaganda posters, exchanged personnel, and planned joint operations, such as ETIM sending members to join the functional unit of ISIL-K responsible for monitoring and executing attacks against Chinese nationals.**
[Last Updated: 09 February 2023]
Insights:
- ISIL-K's Geographical Focus: ISIL-K primarily operates in eastern Afghanistan, with key strongholds in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces. The group has attempted to extend its influence to other provinces in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan but has mainly been confined due to counterterrorism efforts.
- ISIL-K's Regional Cooperation: Counterterrorism pressures from regional and international partners, combined with ongoing operations by U.S. forces, Afghan government forces, the Afghan Taliban, and international counterterrorism efforts, have led to a diminished ISIL-K presence in Afghanistan. Neighboring Central Asian states are managing threats from ISIL-K spillover and are considering expanding security cooperation to counter the threat.
The escalating tension between the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISIL-K) and the Taliban in Afghanistan raises concerns for regional politics and general-news, especially as ISIL-K intends to attack diplomatic missions from various countries in the region. With the UN Security Council meeting to discuss global peace and security threats caused by terrorism, it is clear that the environment of crime and justice in Central and South Asia is under threat from ISIL-K's expanding presence and activities.
