Alwaght | News & Analysis Website

Alwaght- ISIS is well aware that Afghanistan is apt to providing fertile ground for the growth of extremism. Intellectual, human and territorial geography of Afghanistan can be important and attractive for ISIS considering the following aspects:

1. Strategic position in the global network of extremism

In retrospect, Afghanistan has been the point of intersection and focus of extremists. The multinational Muslim fighters after attending wars in Kashmir, Bosnia, and Chechnya have returned back to Afghanistan. A force can hardly be found in the middle-level or leadership cadre of Islamic extremist groups who had not been or fought in Afghanistan in the recent three decades.

2. Geopolitics

ISIS believes that geopolitics of Afghanistan has several key functions for them and their international supporters as well due to the fact that geographical location of Afghanistan has the capacity to create several fronts, that is against China, Russia and Iran.

3. Ideology

Although Afghanistan is not completely in the realm of ideology of ISIS, but the extremists of this country are ready for conformation with any kind of ideology that is in line with their goals especially if supported by extensive financial assistance. The fact ISIS named Afghanistan and its surrounding area as "Khorasan" indicates that this terrorist group has an ideological look to this region. Al-Qaeda claims that, Khorasan is the Promised Land. The slogan of "Jihad in Khorasan" is of great ideological importance because "black flags of Khorasan" provide a powerful incentive to the fighters. If the policies of Afganistan national unity government result in creating a deep gap between the political system and religious teachings, it will prepare the ground for acceptance of ideologies like ISIS.

4. Existence of powerful political-security incentives

A traditional society like Afghanistan that is susceptible to armed activities has a high capacity for legitimacy of ISIS. Unsuccessful governments, protesting people, insecure borders and generally lack of a military-political power are among the most important features of this region.  Incomplete distribution or weakness of military-political power of the central government is one of the most important drivers for the growth of centrifugal forces on the peripheral areas of this country. In fact, weakness of the central government paves the ground for development of ISIS.

5. Social and ideological conformity

As far as, ideologically, Afghans believe on Islamic Emirate, Jihad and fighting against disbelief moves in line with al-Qaeda and Taliban, they may come along with ideological justifications of ISIS as well providing social support for spread of ISIS in the region.  Socially, there are also some elements such as ethnic and tribal structure, armed tribes and ethnic-religious gaps in Afghanistan that confirm and support some phenomenon like ISIS.

6. Geography

In addition to lack of a military-political power in the peripheral areas of Afghanistan, existence of some uninhabited or sparsely populated areas is counted as fertile ground for the initial formation of ISIS. People living in these areas are mostly nomadic that in exchange for little financial or arms support from abroad they are ready to host armed groups.

7.  The wealth and power stemming from drugs

While Iraq and Syria enjoy the natural resources of oil and gas, Afghanistan produces 90 percent of world’s opium that generates enormous wealth and has ever brought financial self-reliance for the armed groups in this country and especially in Helmand province that produces 46 percent of opium.

8. Financial needs of extremist groups in Afghanistan

After transfer of most of the extremists to Iraq and Syria, Arab states' financial aid flooded into these areas; therefore, Afghan militants encountered financial problems. Nevertheless, the Taliban war, reportedly, has lost its ideological aspect and has turned into a business. In such circumstances, the great wealth of ISIS will tempt many groups.