Latest news with #ISIS-K
Gulf Insider
2 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
The Taliban Is Back In The International Spotlight
Al Jazeera recently published a detailed piece about how India, Pakistan, and Iran are all nowadays wooing the Taliban, which is true, but they left out how Russia and China are as well while also making no mention of the newfound pressure that the US is placing upon the group. In the order that they were mentioned, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held an historic call with his Afghan counterpart in late May, the first between officials of their level in over a quarter century. He thanked him for condemning April's Pahalgam terrorist attack that led to the latest Indo-Pak conflict and for not falling for fake news meant to stir trouble between them. They also discussed expanding bilateral ties. India and Afghanistan have shared threat perceptions of Pakistan, the first due to the Kashmir Conflict and the second as regards Islamabad's alleged attempts to subordinate Kabul. Closer cooperation between them thus advances their interests but prompts deep suspicion from Pakistan. Segueing into that country's interests, Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring terrorist groups, which the Taliban denies. The improvement of their ties upon alleviating their resultant security dilemma could pioneer a Central Eurasian Corridor from Pakistan to Russia and beyond. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi organized a meeting between their top diplomats in Beijing in late May to that end, but it's unclear whether any tangible progress will be achieved. Mutual mistrust might ultimately prove insurmountable. Moving along to Iran, that country had long-standing tensions with the Taliban over water rights and migration, but its Foreign Minister just visited Tehran in an attempt to help resolve them. Whether or not that happens is another story, but Iran has an interest in sincerely doing so due to the newfound pressure that the US is placing on the Taliban, which will be touched upon later on in this analysis. The point is that ties appear to be thawing, and at the very least, tensions might remain manageable for now. Iran's ties with Afghanistan sharply contrast with Russia's, which recently removed the Taliban's terrorist designation, just hosted a delegation at the recent Russia-Islamic World Forum in Kazan where they signed several agreements, and has a grand geo-economic vision for Afghanistan that was detailed here. The aforesaid overlaps with Pakistan's earlier mentioned connectivity plans, which partially explains their rapprochement in recent years and could position Russia to mediate between it and Afghanistan. On that topic, China is already mediating as was written above, but Russia objectively seems to be closer to the Taliban nowadays than they are given the latest agreements that were just signed. In any case, China is poised to play a major role in Afghanistan's reconstruction, though continued security threats stemming from ISIS-K appear to have thus far hampered the implementation of its plans. Nevertheless, these plans still remain in place, and it's possible that they could be speedily implemented in the future. That's precisely what the US wants to prevent, however, thus explaining the newfound pressure that it's placing upon the Taliban through Trump's demand to reobtain control over Bagram Airbase and Rubio's implied threat to redesignate the group as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization' (possibly only if it refuses). Pakistan's possible collusion with the US will be pivotal in determining what happens. If the US succeeds, then it could reshape South Asian geopolitics, much to India's detriment and possibly also China's. Given the renewed interest that major stakeholders – India, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, China, and the US – have in Afghanistan, the Taliban's return to the international spotlight might portend a new era of cooperation and competition between them. The main variable is whether or not the Afghan-Pakistani security dilemma is soon alleviated and on what terms if so, such as Eurasian-mediated (Russia and/or China) or American-coerced, which will in turn place these dynamics on very different trajectories.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Islamic States claims its first attacks on new Syrian gov't as bombs allegedly kill soldiers
While the Syrian government said it conducted two raids in Damascus earlier this week, to arrest ISIS operatives, it has not yet acknowledged any attack by the terror group. Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for two bomb attacks on the new Syrian government, which would be the first move against the new Syrian government since it took power in December, according to a war monitoring group and international media reports on Friday. The bombs allegedly killed and wounded multiple government soldiers and members of a government-allied militia, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. ISIS said it had planted a bomb on a "vehicle of the apostate regime" in the desert of the southern province of Sweida last Tuesday and claimed to have killed a member of the US-backed Free Syrian Army in a second bomb attack this week. While the Syrian government said it conducted two raids in Damascus earlier this week to arrest ISIS operatives, it has not yet acknowledged any attack by the terror group. While ISIS's hold on Syria was significantly reduced in 2019 after large-scale efforts by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, small cells have continued to carry out attacks. Kurdish authorities struck a deal with the Syrian government earlier this week to begin clearing camps of ISIS families in eastern Syria, TheJerusalem Post's Seth Frantzman reported. 'THE KURDISH authorities and the Syrian interim government have reached an agreement to empty the notorious al-Hol camp from Syrians and return them to their homes, a Kurdish official said on Monday,' according to a report from Kurdish media Rudaw on Monday. While Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was once a member of a group affiliated with Al-Qaeda, he has since distanced himself from the group in order to seek alliances among Western nations. While Sharaa has warmed ties with the Trump administration, ISIS has planned several attacks against the US. An ISIS-affiliated attack claimed the lives of 14 people in New Orleans in January and only two weeks ago a national guardsman was arrested for allegedly planning an attack in the name of the group. An anonymous senior US defense official told Reuters that following the New Orleans attack, there had been growing concern about the Islamic State increasing its recruiting efforts and resurging in Syria - worries which were heightened when the Assad regime fell. A UN team that monitors Islamic State activities reported to the UN Security Council in July a 'risk of resurgence' of the group in the Middle East and increased concerns about the ability of its Afghanistan-based affiliate, ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), to mount attacks outside the country. European governments viewed ISIS-K as 'the greatest external terrorist threat to Europe,' it said. 'In addition to the executed attacks, the number of plots disrupted or being tracked through the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Levant, Asia, Europe, and potentially as far as North America is striking,' the team said. REUTERS contributed to this report.
News18
23-05-2025
- Business
- News18
How China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Extending To Afghanistan Raises Terror Threats For India
Last Updated: Terrorist groups like Jaish, Lashkar, and ISIS-K are expected to exploit the new infrastructure, intelligence sources said Intelligence agencies have raised alarms about serious threats to India from Jaish-e-Mohammed and Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) due to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), CNN-News18 has learnt. The inclusion of Afghanistan in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and CPEC poses significant security risks to India, sources said on Friday. Infra may aid terror groups Terrorist groups like Jaish, Lashkar, and ISIS-K are expected to exploit the new infrastructure, they added. CPEC-linked infrastructure projects, including roads and railways extending into Afghanistan, could be used by JeM and LeT, the sources warned. Enhanced connectivity may facilitate the smuggling of weapons, funds, and militants into India, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, they added. 'The Taliban's control over Afghanistan and their connections with Pakistan-based groups will enable JeM and LeT to operate from Afghan territory under the guise of BRI projects," said a source. 'This situation would provide logistical cover and hinder India's ability to counter these groups. While China's primary interest in BRI is economic, there is a possibility that Beijing might tolerate JeM and LeT activities at some point." advetisement China-Pakistan-Taliban attitudes There is a strong likelihood that China may allow these groups to gain strength and launch attacks on India, said the sources. Pakistan's influence in Afghanistan via CPEC, they said, could lead to intelligence-sharing gaps, with the Taliban overlooking anti-India militant activities. The Taliban's governance in Afghanistan includes Kandhari factions who are sympathetic to jihadi ideologies. Their involvement in BRI projects may enable militant groups to embed within economic zones, using them for recruitment and planning, said the sources. 'Increased traffic along CPEC routes could allow ISIS-K to launch attacks on Indian interests or regional infrastructure, destabilising India. BRI projects prioritise Chinese labour and technology, which often sidelines local populations," said a source. 'This discontent may be exploited by ISIS-K to fuel anti-India rhetoric, recruit militants, and increase regional instability." Sabotage fears Just as Baloch groups have attacked CPEC projects in Pakistan, Afghanistan's BRI projects might also face sabotage, said the sources. This would destabilise the region, creating opportunities for ISIS-K to infiltrate India, they added. First Published: May 23, 2025, 22:33 IST
News18
23-05-2025
- Business
- News18
Terror Corridor? Intel Warns Of JeM, ISIS-K Threat To India As CPEC Enters Afghanistan
Last Updated: Roads, railways, and logistics hubs planned as part of CPEC's Afghan integration may be used to smuggle weapons, funds, and militants into India, particularly Jammu and Kashmir In a high-level warning flagged by intelligence agencies, CNN-News18 has learnt that the extension of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)—especially through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan—is emerging as a significant national security threat for India. The warning comes after China, Pakistan, and the Taliban-led Afghan government formally announced plans to expand CPEC into Afghanistan, following a trilateral meeting in Beijing between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Pakistan's Ishaq Dar, and Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Sources say that terror outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) are expected to take advantage of new locations created under this expansion. Roads, railways, and logistics hubs planned as part of CPEC's Afghan integration may be used to smuggle weapons, funds, and militants into India, particularly Jammu and Kashmir. Officials are deeply concerned that the Taliban's control in Afghanistan, combined with their links to Pakistan-based groups, could allow JeM and LeT to operate more freely from Afghan territory—using BRI projects as a façade. This logistical cover could severely undermine India's counter-terror capabilities. While China's stated goal in BRI is economic expansion, there is a strong possibility that Beijing may eventually tolerate the presence and activities of anti-India groups like JeM and LeT in these regions. This tacit allowance could embolden such groups and enable attacks on Indian soil. Another red flag is Pakistan's growing influence in Afghanistan through CPEC. This, sources say, may widen intelligence-sharing gaps and enable the Taliban to overlook anti-India militant activities. Intelligence officials have also noted that Kandhari factions within the Taliban are particularly sympathetic to jihadi ideologies. Their involvement in BRI-linked zones could allow militant groups to embed themselves under the guise of economic development—turning these areas into recruitment and planning hubs. The increased traffic and connectivity along new CPEC routes could further provide ISIS-K with a corridor to launch attacks on Indian assets and infrastructure in the region. This would heighten regional instability and directly impact Indian security interests. BRI projects typically prioritise Chinese labour and technology while sidelining local populations. This discontent will be used by ISIS-K to fuel anti-India rhetoric, recruit militants, and increase regional instability. Similar to how Baloch insurgents have targeted CPEC projects in Pakistan, the infrastructure in Afghanistan is expected to face sabotage as well. This instability could create further openings for ISIS-K to destabilise the region and infiltrate India. What Is CPEC? The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which was introduced in May 2013 during Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Pakistan. The CPEC started in April 2015 when Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif signed 51 agreements and memoranda of understanding. The project initially required an investment of US$ 46 billion, which rapidly increased to US$ 62 billion in pledges or around 20% of Pakistan's GDP. The economic corridor was commended for its design, plugging Pakistan's infrastructure gaps, establishing industrial zones, and creating trade routes to China through the Gwadar Port, strategically located on the Arabian Sea.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hegseth orders Pentagon to launch comprehensive review into 'catastrophic' 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is instructing the Pentagon to launch a comprehensive review into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. In 2021, then-President Joe Biden removed U.S. troops from Afghanistan, following up on existing plans from the first Trump administration in 2020 with Taliban leaders to end the war in the region. Biden faced scrutiny after the withdrawal as the Taliban quickly took over Afghanistan again and more than a dozen U.S. service members died supporting evacuation efforts. Thirteen U.S. service members were killed during the withdrawal process due to a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate, outside the then-Hamid Karzai International Airport, as the Taliban quickly seized control of Kabul. Trump Pushes To Recover 'Billions Of Dollars' Of Military Equipment Left Behind In Afghanistan Withdrawal "The Department of Defense has an obligation, both to the American people and to the warfighters who sacrificed their youth in Afghanistan, to get to the facts," Hegseth said in a Tuesday memo. "This remains an important step toward regaining faith and trust with the American people and all those who wear the uniform and is prudent based on the number of casualties and equipment lost during the execution of this withdrawal operation." Hegseth said the Pentagon has already completed a review into the "catastrophic" withdrawal and concluded that a full investigation is necessary to provide a complete picture of the event and to hold those responsible accountable. Read On The Fox News App As a result, Hegseth is directing Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell to spearhead a special review panel to evaluate previous investigations and to "analyze the decision-making that led to one of America's darkest and deadliest international moments." "This team will ensure ACCOUNTABILITY to the American people and the warfighters of our great Nation," Hegseth wrote in the memo. On Aug. 26, 2021, an ISIS-K suicide bomber who the Taliban released earlier that month detonated his body-worn improvised explosive device at Abbey Gate outside Kabul's airport, according to a U.S. Army Central Command investigation released in 2024. In addition to the 13 U.S. service members who were killed, approximately 170 Afghan civilians also died. House Gop Releases Scathing Report On Biden's Withdrawal From Afghanistan The Biden administration's White House released a report in 2023 evaluating the Afghanistan withdrawal, which stated that top intelligence officials did not accurately assess how quickly the Taliban would retake control of Kabul. Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee conducted their own investigation into the withdrawal, and the U.S. military produced at least two reports on the matter. The Biden administration "prioritized the optics of the withdrawal over the security of U.S. personnel on the ground," according to the House Foreign Affairs Committee report. "For that reason, they failed to plan for all contingencies, including a noncombatant evacuation operation (NEO) and refused to order a NEO until after the Taliban had already entered Kabul," the report said. Additionally, the report said the "failure" to adequately establish evacuation plans led to an unsafe environment at the airport and put the lives of service members and State Department officials at risk. In February, Trump told reporters that he wouldn't instruct Hegseth on what actions the Pentagon should take when asked if he was considering firing military leaders who oversaw the withdrawal. But Trump said he would "fire every single one of them." The commander of U.S. Central Command in 2021, retired Marine Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., in 2024 took full ownership of the loss of U.S. troops that day. "I was the overall commander, and I and I alone bear full military responsibility for what happened at Abbey Gate," McKenzie told the House Foreign Affairs Committee in March 2024. Now-retired Army Gen. Mark Milley, the former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers at the same hearing that he believed the evacuation should have occurred sooner and that multiple factors contributed to failures in the withdrawal. Both McKenzie and Milley told lawmakers they advised Biden to keep some U.S. troops in Afghanistan after pulling out most U.S. forces. "The outcome in Afghanistan was the result of many decisions from many years of war," Milley told lawmakers. "Like any complex phenomena, there was no single causal factor that determined the outcome." Fox News' Liz Friden contributed to this article source: Hegseth orders Pentagon to launch comprehensive review into 'catastrophic' 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal
