SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)
This is true of Afghanistan and Pakistan where poverty, unemployment, grievances and oppression have forced thousands to join IS’s army. The deteriorating security situation and mass desertion of Afghan national army soldiers has prompted the emergence of IS as a strong and well-organised militant organisation in Afghanistan. Thousands of members of the group, which controls parts of Iraq and Syria, are reportedly operating in more than 10 provinces of the country. The recent kidnapping of more than 31 Hazara Muslims in Zabul province raised many questions about the effectiveness of the army’s operations. The unity government has been unable to defeat IS forces or recover the kidnapped people. Last week, President Ashraf Ghani also expressed deep concern over the emergence of IS in Afghanistan and requested that since his country’s army is unable to counter the threat, the US should re-examine the current troop withdrawal timetable. The Afghan interior ministry has already confirmed the extensive networks of IS in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s foreign ministry has also warned against IS’s threat to the country.
Foreign Secretary Aziz Ahmad Chaudhry told the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee at Parliament House that IS was indeed a real concern. IS is now a relatively strong organisation because the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), some Afghan Taliban groups, Lashkar-e-Islam and Boko Haram have either joined or pledged allegiance to its leaders. There are speculations in Islamabad’s establishment that Lashkar-e-Tayyaba may possibly join the IS network as well. The international community has also expressed deep concern over the existence of IS in Afghanistan. The head of Canada’s spy agency has warned that IS is spreading to Libya, Pakistan and Afghanistan. “Boko Haram just pledged allegiance to IS; so there is also this phenomenon of IS spreading,” the spy chief said. The spread of IS in South Asia has major ramifications. During a hearing of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the growth of an IS affiliated organisation in Afghanistan would “initially pose a threat to the government of Afghanistan”.
Daesh (local name for IS) is now taking root in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The organisation is wealthy, but it is not interested in working with small splinter groups. That is why [militant] groups are merging to be in a better position to negotiate with Daesh,” Dr Hussain Seharwardi, Professor at the International Relations Department, Peshawar University says. While terror outfit Jundullah claims IS has visited Balochistan, and Islamabad’s Lal Masjid students have come out in vocal support of Baghdadi’s ideology, officials have, at varying times, said IS is non-existent, or – volte face – a serious threat.The emergence of IS in Afghanistan Pakistan and its contribution to the international jihad against the west is a matter of great concern.
pakistan.shafaqna.com
