ISIS-Khorasan warns Pakistan of destruction !

Editorial Comment

• The terrorist organisation ISIS-K (ISIS-Khorasan) has warned Pakistan, “We will destroy and tear you to pieces. We want to bring a rule like that in Afghanistan to Pakistan”.
• What does the ISIS-K wish to do exactly ? What is the potential threat from them ? What can they do against Pakistan in the future ?
• ISIS-K is a Sunni Muslim group, it attacks Shia Muslims in Afghanistan and Pakistan !

On August 15, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. After that, various terrorist groups already present there began to think that they too could rule over Afghanistan and Pakistan. ISIS-K (ISIS-Khorasan) is the largest group among them. They may have more than 1,500 terrorists. They have no shortage of money and weapons.

Society in Afghanistan is divided into different tribes and races. The people there do nothing but fight. So, it is not very difficult for ISIS-K to recruit new terrorists. ISIS-K has carried out several terrorist attacks since the Taliban took over Afghanistan.

In a terrorist attack, ISIS-K used an Uyghur Muslim as a suicide bomber. The number of these Uyghur Muslims in China is 2-3 crore. They want to separate from China. Some Uyghurs have joined ISIS-K. In addition, some people from Afghanistan have joined the organisation.

Shiites and Sunnis are two communities in Afghanistan. The majority of the population is Muslim; whereas, the number of people from other religions is only 1 per cent.

Among Muslims, Shia and Sunni are the two sects. Shiites are around 11 to 12 per cent of the total population, of which the Hazara community is one of them. They get help from Iran. ISIS-K is Sunni and anti-Shiite. So, they have attacked Shia mosques and killed many Shia Muslims. Now they have resorted to violence in Pakistan as well.

Apart from ISIS, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is also a terrorist organisation. We can call Tehrik-e-Pakistan a Pakistani Taliban. The Taliban of Afghanistan and the Taliban of Pakistan are fighting each other, instead of fighting as one front. This has created the possibility of a civil war in Afghanistan.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is fighting against Pakistan. They want to overthrow the Pakistan Government. ISIS-K wants a larger share of power in Afghanistan. So, who is fighting for what, no one knows, but there has been a sharp rise in violence.

It was thought that peace would prevail in Afghanistan once the Taliban took over, but there have been only violence and suicide attacks. It is not clear at this point in time who the leaders in Afghanistan are or will be. But, they do not dare come to Kabul, because the Haqqani network wants to dominate the Taliban.

The situation in Pakistan is very explosive and dangerous, and the ISIS-K warning to destroy Pakistan must be taken seriously !

Pakistan believed that it would gain strategic depth in Afghanistan after the establishment of the Taliban rule. That, Afghanistan will be their slave country, but nothing like this has happened. Therefore, Pakistan is suffering the most. Violence has become a part of its life.

The United Nations Financial Task Force has placed Pakistan on its ‘Grey list’. No world-class organisation is ready to help Pakistan. Pakistan has received some assistance from Saudi Arabia. Pakistan’s economic situation is already in a bad shape. Violence is on the rise. The situation in Pakistan is very explosive and dangerous. Therefore, a civil war in Afghanistan and Pakistan is likely to escalate soon.

Terrorist groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or ISIS-K do not recognise the Durant Line between Afghanistan and Pakistan (The international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan). Therefore, there is no doubt that the situation in Pakistan is going to be very serious soon.

Unfortunately, civilians in Afghanistan will be the victims. Today, millions of Afghans are seeking refuge in Pakistan, Iran and other countries in the world. It is because violence has increased not only in Afghanistan but in Pakistan too; therefore, the warning from ISIS-K about the destruction of Pakistan must be taken seriously.

– (Retd.) Brigadier Hemant Mahajan, Pune.