YOU’VE HEARD OF ISIS, BUT WHAT ABOUT ISIS-K?
THE NSA SAYS THE GROUP IS A THREAT TO PEOPLE IN AFGHANISTAN–INCLUDING AMERICANS STILL THERE.
THE THING IS, WE ALREADY HAVE AN ENEMY THERE: THE TALIBAN.
AND ISIS-K IS A SWORN ENEMY OF THE TALIBAN.
SO, IF THE ENEMY OF OUR ENEMY ISN’T OUR FRIEND, THEN WHAT *ARE* THEY?
LET’S GET THIS STRAIGHT.
THE GROUP STARTED IN 2015, FOLLOWING ISIS’S MISSION TO RETURN TO THE EARLY DAYS OF ISLAM, BUT TAKING IT FROM IRAQ AND SYRIA OVER TO THE KHORASAN REGION…HENCE THE “K” IN THE NAME.
THE REGION INCLUDES PARTS OF IRAN, TURKMENISTAN, AND AFGHANISTAN.
SINCE THEN, ISIS HAS HELPED SUPPORT THEM FINANCIALLY, ACCORDING TO THE US TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
THAT MONEY HELPED THEM GROW INTO A FORCE BIG ENOUGH TO CLASH WITH THE TALIBAN.
THEY DISAGREE ON SEVERAL FRONTS, INCLUDING THEIR VERY IDEOLOGIES.
THEY’RE BOTH RADICAL JIHADIST GROUPS THAT PRACTICE EXTREME SUNNI ISLAM, BUT DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF IT.
SO, NOW, THEY LAUNCH ATTACKS AT EACH OTHER, PUTTING THE LIVES OF THE AFGHAN PEOPLE AT RISK–INCLUDING THOSE WHO WANT TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY.
JAKE SULLIVAN: “WE ARE MONITORING FOR ANY POTENTIAL TERRORIST THREATS, AS I JUST MENTIONED, INCLUDING FROM ISIS, KAY. WE INTEND TO CONTINUE THESE OPERATIONS OVER THE COMING DAYS BEFORE COMPLETING OUR DRAWDOWN.”
ISIS-K MAY BE STRONG, BUT THEY DON’T HAVE THE GLOBAL PRESENCE THAT ISIS–THE ORIGINAL ONE–HAS.
GOT IT STRAIGHT?
LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS, AND DON’T FORGET TO HIT THE STRAIGHT ARROW BIAS METER.
