Afghanistan: Taliban Carries Out Raid on Islamic State Group Hideout

Facts

• Taliban forces killed six members of the Islamic State group (IS) in Afghanistan’s northern Balkh province during an overnight raid on Monday.¹
• According to a spokesperson for the police chief in Balkh, the operation conducted Monday targeted an IS hideout located in Nahri Shahi district.²
• The regional affiliate of IS known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province has increased its attacks since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The group has targeted Taliban patrols and Shia populations.³
• Last month, a member of IS carried out a suicide bombing that killed three, including Daud Muzmal, who serves as the Taliban’s appointed governor for Balkh. Muzmal is the highest-serving Taliban official to have been killed since the Taliban took power.²
• The Taliban retook power in Afghanistan in August 2021, as US and NATO forces withdrew after 20 years. The international community has not recognized the Taliban government on the basis of human rights violations.⁴

Sources: ¹Radiofreeeurope/radioliberty, ²Associated Press, ³Al arabiya english and ⁴Abc news.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Al Jazeera. Taliban forces took the necessary steps to destroy IS hideouts in Afghanistan and kill six dangerous terrorists. Security operation officials found AK-47 guns along with various explosives and ammunition. Thankfully, the Taliban was able to catch some of the terrorists before they could commit more atrocities — Afghanistan has already seen too many terrorist attacks.
• Narrative B, as provided by Human rights watch. The Taliban authorities have done little to protect minority communities in Afghanistan from suicide bombings and other unlawful attacks or to provide necessary medical care or other services to these groups. The Taliban must protect at-risk communities and assist the victims of attacks and their families. While they have now carried out a raid on Islamic State group affiliates in the country, more must be done.