Taliban, "Raided IS Hideout, Arrested 4"...Conflict Intensifies

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Taliban has announced that it is intensifying its offensive against the rival organization Islamic State (IS) within Afghanistan. As clashes between the two sides escalate, concerns are rising that the Afghan civil war issue is turning into a fight against terrorist organizations.

According to foreign media including the AP on the 7th (local time), Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, stated on his Twitter the previous day, "On the night of the 5th, Taliban fighters raided an IS hideout on the outskirts of the capital Kabul and arrested four people," adding, "During this attack, their weapons and various documents were also seized."

The Taliban had also announced an attack on an IS hideout in Kabul on the 3rd. Mujahid emphasized, "As a result of a decisive and successful operation, the IS center was completely destroyed, and all IS members inside were killed." On the same day, a bomb attack occurred at a mosque in Kabul, which was suspected to be orchestrated by IS, prompting a retaliatory strike on their hideout. The Taliban has continued its offensive against IS since then.

Amid the Taliban's offensive, IS continued its terrorist activities in eastern Afghanistan, including Jalalabad, responding in kind. On the 6th, IS claimed via its Telegram propaganda channel that it had captured and beheaded one Taliban fighter in Jalalabad. On the same day in Jalalabad, two Taliban fighters on patrol were shot and killed by assailants. This attack is also presumed to have been carried out by IS.

As the confrontation between IS-K, the Afghan branch of IS, and the Taliban intensifies, concerns are growing that the Afghan crisis will become more prolonged. Although both the Taliban and IS-K are classified as Sunni Islamist armed groups, IS-K has criticized the Taliban for engaging in peace talks with the United States and for being moderate and non-aggressive toward Shia believers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.