ISIS's “Khorasan Project” in Afghanistan: New Challenges and Threats

Abstract

Attempts to penetrate and consolidate in new territories made by supporters of the terrorist organization “Islamic State”* led to the creation of a “branch” of this international extremist network, acting under the banner of “global jihad”, in Afghanistan. The proclamation of the so-called “Khorasan province” was engendered by the confrontation of this militant group not only with the Western coalition, led by the US and the pro-American Afghan government that existed until August 15, 2021, but also with the Islamist Taliban movement. Moreover, the confrontation between IS-Khorasan Province (ISKP) and the Taliban* continued even after the latter returned to power. The supporters of the self-proclaimed “caliphate” managed to regain their strength after the withdrawal of foreign troops from the Afghan soil and now pose a quite tangible threat, carrying out bloody terrorist acts against the Taliban, representatives of ethnic and confessional minorities, and even against foreign objects. The article analyzes the features of the emergence of the “Khorasan project” of ISIS*, as well as the reasons for the enmity of this group towards the Taliban. The author also examines the prospects for the destructive activities of ISKP and its impact on the security situation both in Afghanistan itself and in the neighboring countries. The author concludes that ISKP does not have any sufficient potential to overthrow the Taliban* regime and come to power in Afghanistan. However, the activities of the terrorist group pose a great danger not only to this country, but to the entire region. *the organization is banned on the territory of the Russian Federation