– Where did the rivalry start? –

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The Taliban and the IS-K are both militant Sunni groups, but while the new Taliban-led regime in Kabul has vowed to protect the Shia minority, its rival remains determined to stamp out “apostates” and “hypocrites. “.

As in Iraq, where the original ISIS targeted Shiite communities to foment sectarian war, in Afghanistan the IS-K threatened the Hazara, a predominantly Shiite ethnic minority.


Many IS-K fighters have fought for the Taliban or allied groups, or are from insurgent movements inspired by Al Qaeda. But now the groups’ strategies have diverged.

The Taliban in 2021 aims to rule Afghanistan according to its interpretation phone number library of Islamic law, while the IS-K remains committed to the distant goal of a global “caliphate”.

Taliban spokespersons call the group “takfiri” – Muslims who mark the other apostates and condemn them to death – while IS-K propaganda presents their rivals as clearance sales to the Americans.

But while the rhetoric is chilling, the line between the groups is porous and fighters may switch sides as the views and opportunities of their commanders evolve.

“IS-K has already been successful in recruiting disgruntled members of the Taliban and those who perceive the Taliban as too moderate,” said Barbara Kelemen of Dragonfly Security Intelligence.