Islamic State – Khorasan Province

Islamic State – Khorasan Province. It is an official regional branch of the transnational Salafi jihadist organization Islamic State, active primarily in South Asia and Central Asia. Established in January 2015 by disaffected members of the Taliban and other regional militant factions, the group seeks to establish a caliphate in the historical Khorasan region. It has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States Department of State and has conducted numerous high-profile attacks against civilian and military targets across multiple countries.

History

The group was formally announced in January 2015 by spokesmen for the Islamic State central leadership, consolidating pre-existing networks of militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Its early cadre included former mid-level commanders from the Taliban, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan who pledged bay'ah to then-Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Initial territorial gains were made in eastern Afghanistan, notably in Nangarhar Province and Kunar Province, leading to intense combat with Afghan National Security Forces and NATO-led Resolute Support Mission forces. Following the 2021 Taliban offensive and the subsequent Fall of Kabul, the group intensified its insurgency against the new Taliban government, shifting from holding territory to conducting guerrilla warfare and terrorist attacks.

Organization and structure

The group operates under the direct guidance and financial support of the Islamic State core in Syria and Iraq, though it maintains significant operational autonomy. Its structure is modeled on the province system of the parent organization, with reported subdivisions or "districts" corresponding to geographic areas like Kabul, Khorasan, and Pakistan. Key components include a military council, a security and intelligence apparatus known as the Amniyat, and a media wing producing content in Pashto, Dari, and Urdu. Despite significant leadership losses from targeted strikes by the United States Armed Forces and operations by the Taliban, the group has demonstrated resilience in regenerating its command hierarchy.

Ideology and objectives

The group adheres strictly to the extremist interpretation of Sunni Islam promulgated by the Islamic State, viewing the Taliban as insufficiently rigorous and accusing them of nationalism and compromise. Its primary objective is the establishment of an Islamic caliphate governing the historical Khorasan region, encompassing modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of Iran, and the former Soviet republics of Central Asia. The group's ideology is explicitly takfiri, authorizing the killing of Muslims it deems apostates, including Shia Muslims, which has driven its campaign of sectarian violence against the Hazara people and Shia mosques.

Activities and operations

Its activities range from complex urban terrorist attacks to guerrilla warfare in rural areas. Notable attacks claimed by the group include the August 2021 2021 Kabul airport attack during the American evacuation from Afghanistan, the September 2022 assault on the Russian Embassy in Kabul, and repeated bombings of Shia mosques and cultural centers in cities like Kabul and Kandahar. It has also conducted frequent raids against Taliban checkpoints and positions in provinces like Nangarhar Province and conducted cross-border incursions into Tajikistan. The group's media output is disseminated through channels like the Amaq News Agency.

Relationship with other militant groups

Its relationship with the Taliban is one of intense hostility and violent competition, with both groups engaged in a protracted conflict for ideological and territorial supremacy within Afghanistan. It also maintains a deeply antagonistic stance toward al-Qaeda and its regional affiliate al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, regarding them as rivals. While historically having links to factions like the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, most of these groups have either been subsumed or have fragmented. The group is in direct conflict with state forces including the Pakistan Armed Forces in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps along the Iran–Afghanistan border.

Leadership and notable members

The group's first recognized leader was Abu Omar al-Khorasani, a former Taliban commander who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Nangarhar Province in 2016. Successive leaders, including Abu Sayed Orakzai and Abdul Haseeb Logari, were also eliminated in targeted operations. The current leader is believed to be Shahab al-Muhajir, a figure with experience in insurgent tactics and bomb-making. Other notable operational commanders have included Mawlavi Habib ur-Rahman, who oversaw activities in Kunar Province, and Aslam Farooqi, who was captured by Afghan security forces in 2020.