Afghanistan Importation of Islamic State

"We have not seen any Islamic State militants on the move in Kajaki."
"We know Mullah Abdul Rauf Khadim. He was a member of the Taliban, but now he is sitting at home."
Mullah Mohammad Shah, local Taliban commander

"They are trying to find people, sending out letters to people to support them."
Majji Mullah Sahib, tribal elder, Kajaki

"I don't want to discount this. ISIS in Syria and Iraq went so quickly, and people don't want that to happen here."
General John F. Campbell, commander, U.S.-led Afghanistan coalition

In this file photo taken on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, Pakistani Taliban patrol in their stronghold of Shawal in Pakistani tribal region of South Waziristan. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said in November 2014 there was no Islamic State group presence, only militants using its name. However, a letter written by the federal government a month earlier and later obtained by The Associated Press warned local officials that the Islamic State group had begun courting area militants and that the extremists claimed the support of up to "12,000 followers" in northwest Pakistan. (AP Photo/Ishtiaq Mahsud, File)

Reports are coming out of southern Afghanistan about former Taliban fighters claiming allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham. As new recruits to ISIS they are now held to be in combat against their former Taliban comrades. What is emerging in Helmand province, it would appear, is somewhat similar to what is going on in Syria, with al-Qaeda and Islamic State fighting one another for regional dominance.

A firefight reported between the forces of the Taliban and those of the newly-created ISIS in the remote district of Kajaki has resulted in an alert. Afghan officials now speak of a growing threat from ISIS, located over a thousand miles distant from its home territory. Why that might seem improbable when ISIS has proven adept at encouraging cells in Europe and North America, speaks of the ability of the jihadist group to impress and recruit among the younger generation.

Which goes far in explaining why it is that General Campbell and his staff are now investigating reports of that recruiting, with night letter drops at a university in Jalalabad to inspire students to join, and the efforts of Mullah Abdul Rauf Khadim, formerly a prominent Taliban leader in Helmand to bring in new recruits for his growing ISIS-bonded jihadi militia.

Mullah Khadim had been detained for several years at the Guantanamo Bay military prison. On his release he returned to the ranks of the Taliban serving as a provincial-level commander. After some disagreement with the Taliban he threw his allegiance behind the Islamic State. Which led him to begin recruiting in his transformation as the local ISIS leader.

And although local Taliban officials dismiss such claims of the establishment of a significant new ISIS cell: "He has nothing to do with the Islamic State" scoffed Hajji Durani who lives near Khadim's village in Kajaki, others disagree. A tribal elder in Kajaki claims Khadim is busily recruiting under the banner of ISIS, and realizing a good measure of success.

Two pickup trucks full of fighters recently arrived and moved nearby, reported Majji Mullah Sahib. These transcend rumours when the commander of the Afghanistan coalition gives them credibility in planning to investigate the situation more thoroughly. In recognition of the swift, and unexpected rise to power of ISIS in Syria and Iraq. It could be repeated in Afghanistan.

And what is happening in Afghanistan appears to be occurring as well in neighbouring Pakistan with the Taliban there beginning to convert to Islamic State fealty. "We need to be very watchful. We need to be careful", said Nasir Khan Durrani, police chief in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering the lawless tribal region, and haven for Islamists.