Following the emergence of ISIS in Afghanistan and its official declaration announcing the same, new security threats surfaced in the region. However, this time, the threat posed by ISIS was not limited just to the government, but posed a major ordeal for the Taliban leaders and cadre.
ISIS announced that anyone who did not pledge allegiance to them was a rebel and “Khawarijs” or “Kharjites”, and the punishment for them was death. Similar to its mentors of ISIS, the local branch of ISIS in Afghanistan, the “Islamic State Khorasan Province” (ISKP) committed unprecedented atrocities and oppressed the people in the region on an incomparable scale.
Neither the Taliban Mujahideen nor civilians were safe from their cruelty as they brutally destroyed anyone who stood against them. Through their deceitful and false propaganda, recorded videos, and appeals to Muslims, especially the youth, they were able to impress and attract a significant number of followers. As their numbers grew, so did their arrogance and cruelty.
As a result, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan under Taliban recognized the seriousness and significance of the matter and pledged to eradicate this tribulation. This was happening even as the Taliban was engaged in fighting against America and its allies. The Taliban realized that it also had to fight an enemy which was donning Mujahid’s costume, but was composed of brainwashed and misled youth.
Despite limited resources, the Islamic Emirate, utilizing its full strength, not only dispelled their false propaganda but also initiated military operations against ISKP. One of the prominent individuals who played an important role in this fight against the ISKP is Dr Bashir, Head of counter-intelligence department in the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) HQ, in Kabul. GDI is the intelligence agency of Afghanistan.
Earlier, he was the chief of GDI in Nangarhar province which used to be the stronghold of ISKP.He led his men on the front line against ISKP despite lack of modern equipment and challenged the arrogant ISKP and fought with bravery which will be remembered forever. Dr Bashir was able to disrupt the momentum of ISKP in Nangarhar, Kunar, Nooristan, and Laghman province effectively clearing those areas of ISKP’s presence.
As the Mujahideens of Taliban, under the leadership of Dr Bashir, forced Daesh to retreat from Afghanistan, the infrastructure that were destroyed by Daesh were gradually rebuilt due to which the trust between the people and the Taliban Mujahideen became strong. When ISKP fled Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman, and Nooristan, they had two options: either to surrender to the democratic Afghan regime or seek refuge in Pakistan, the only ally of ISKP in the entire region.
Following this, the ISKP’s terrorists surrendered to the Afghan government which at that time was led by President Ashraf Ghani, and helicopters were provided to protect them from the Tliabn’s attack and siege. A significant number of the ISKP leaders and terrorists sought asylum in Pakistan under a treaty called the “Dhabori Treaty”. It is under this treaty that they are now being hosted as honorable guests there.
It is important to put out that the ISKP received no reception or welcome in Afghanistan from the locals. The ISKP was planted in Afghanistan by American intelligence using Pakistan. Nonetheless, with the presence of the organized and strong government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the plans of intelligence agencies of both the United States and Pakistan were thwarted.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) crushed this once-powerful outfit in the region very decisively and the formidable threat of Daesh has now considerably weakened in Afghanistan. Now, in order to revive the ISKP, Pakistan is conducting a campaign and spreading propaganda to prove the existence of ISKP in Afghanistan. They are utilizing individuals who have been detained in Pakistan guesthouses for years, something which I have substantiated in previous articles and have challenged the intelligence departments of Pakistan to disprove my findings.
Today, I am sharing a new list of ISKP terrorists who are residing in Pakistani guesthouses and are being used as proxies to foster insecurity in Afghanistan. This list includes the names of Daesh Khorasan members associated with the Khyber Agency and Mohmand Agency in Pakistan’s tribal region. Additionally, ISKP has recently established multiple centers in Khyber Agency under the supervision of Pakistan’s Military Intelligence (MI) and the ISKP commanders are using these centers to launch attacks in Afghanistan.
The following list consists of ISKP militants who are enjoying the hospitality of the Pakistani government: 1. Zubair 2. Shah Zaib 3. Huzaifah 4. Noorkai Qambar Khail 5. Khyber Khan, Kamar Khail 6. Zaid, Malik Din Khel 7. Hawldar, alias Arslan Mohmand 8. Musa Mohmand 9. Saifullah Ambari Zubair, an important commander of ISKP, currently heads an ISIS center in the Malik Din Khel area of Khyber, Pakistan.
Around 30 fighters reside in this ISKP center in Malik Deen Khel, with their expenses and needs being taken care of by one of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies, Military Intelligence or MI. MI facilitates all aspects, including border crossings, to enable them to fight against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Recently, clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces erupted during an incident at the border.
The forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan successfully prevented ISIS from entering Afghanistan and foiled Pakistan’s attempt. Another Daesh center is located in the Qamber Khel area of Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency. This center is led by Commander Huzaifa. On February 11, Pakistani media claimed the death of a key ISIS commander, Surat Gul, in an intelligencebased operation.
But this is a false claim as Commander Surat Gul had surrendered to Pakistan’s military intelligence a year ago and since then he was staying in a MI guest house in Khyber Agency. Commander Surat Gul was killed after an operation failed in Afghanistan because he had lost his utility and was not proving effective as desired by the Pakistani intelligence agencies.
According to my information, Pakistan’s intelligence agencies are going to carry out more such fake operations to hide their link with ISIS. The individuals listed here are part of a plan devised by MI officers deployed in Khyber and Mohmand Agencies to promote insecurity in Afghanistan and exert pressure on it.
Pakistan may attempt to revitalize ISKP in Afghanistan, but it is now impossible to do so. Afghanistan is governed by an independent and autonomous system, fortified by brave and resolute guardians like Dr Bashir.
Ehsanullah Ehsan is a former spokesperson of Tehreek-e- Taliban.