Following is the November 2022 installment of “Afghanistan Terrorism Report.” The authors provide a monthly analysis concerning the developing terrorist threat in Afghanistan as well as a comprehensive overview of that month’s al-Qaeda and ISIS-K propaganda.

Following several months of hiatus, CEP has resumed its monthly monitoring of ISIS-K and al-Qaeda-linked online propaganda outlets. During the summer, the Taliban regime continued to consolidate power in Afghanistan. Continued factionalism led to several changes in Taliban governors and officials over the summer. This, however, did not slow down the overall trend towards a return to some of the central aspects of Taliban rule prior to 2001, such as the continuously deteriorating treatment of women, further reduction of basic freedoms and fundamental rights, increasing ethnic discrimination, and growing interference in humanitarian deliveries. In November, Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada ordered Taliban judges to strictly implement Sharia law in all regions of the country. This resulted in an uptick of reports of public corporal punishments, including in Kabul, as well as the first official public execution in a sports stadium in Farah province. To underline the symbolism of this execution, several Taliban ministers had traveled to Farah to witness it. Of particular security concern are also reports by officials from countries neighboring Afghanistan that the Taliban have begun issuing Afghan passports to members of terrorist organizations present in the country. This will, of course, complicate the identification of potential foreign terrorists leaving Afghanistan as these will likely travel with original Afghan passports and potentially changed identities.

The campaign of terror attacks and assassinations claimed by ISIS-K in Afghanistan seems to have slowed down slightly towards the end of 2022. However, nevertheless, in November, ISIS-K demonstrated its ability not only to conduct attacks in the west, north, and east of the county and, as in previous months, in Pakistan (see map below), ISIS-K also claimed responsibility for an attack on a Shiite shrine in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz at the end of October, more than 1000 km from the Afghan border. Therefore, ISIS-K remains a significant factor of insecurity within Afghanistan but increasingly also in neighboring countries.

https://www.mappr.co/political-maps/afghanistan-provinces-map/

ISIS-K also continued its campaign of targeted assassinations of well-known Afghan clerics. After killing Mujib Rahman Ansari in Herat at the beginning of September, Qari Najibullah Azizi was killed in Kabul in November. This campaign is clearly aimed at intimidating the Salafi clerical establishment in the country. Both Ansari and Azizi were considered Salafi clerics but maintained good relationships with the Taliban regime.

ISIS-K also continued its propaganda campaign attempting to delegitimize the Taliban regime ideologically. Not only did pro-ISIS-K outlets continue to criticize what they perceive as the lax attitude of the regime towards Shiites and other religions in the country and what ISIS-K hardliners define as deviant behavior. For example, a meeting of the Taliban governor of Kandahar with Hazara representatives was criticized by pro-ISIS-K propaganda and several messages highlighted the deviancy that former Taliban leader Mullah Omar’s grave is maintained by the Taliban. In this regard, the propaganda messages attempt to equate Mullah Omar’s grave with the Shiite tradition of shrines for significant religious figures, a practice that a fundamentalist Sunni interpretation of Islam equates with heresy.

In addition to this ideological criticism, pro-ISIS-K propaganda messages also began highlighting the Taliban mismanagement of international aid. Several messages in November reinterpreted the monthly cash injections by the United Nations, which airlifts several million U.S. dollars each month into the country, as well as cash donations from international donors as payments from the U.S. government to the Taliban for their fight against ISIS-K. Similar to propaganda messages in June, a pro-ISIS-K propaganda message cited a report by the Special Inspector General for the Reconstruction of Afghanistan (SIGAR) and argued that the Taliban are not specifying for what purpose funds that they receive are used. Furthermore, pro-ISIS-K propaganda also cited the annual report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) on the development of opium cultivation in Afghanistan, highlighting that the areas on which poppies are cultivated in Afghanistan increased by 32 percent between 2021 and 2022. The UNODC report was released at the end of October 2022, and the new planting season for poppies in Afghanistan begins at the end of October/beginning of November every year. Therefore, it remains to be seen whether the April 2022 drug ban by the Taliban will have a measurable impact on opium production in 2023.

Voice of Khorasan, an ISIS-K-linked web magazine, is also central to this ideological propaganda campaign. In its November 2022 editions, the magazine again strongly criticized the Taliban as nationalists, equating them with Hamas and Hezbollah and linking them to Iran to further delegitimize the regime. Furthermore, the magazine also named a list of what the magazine termed “Muslim traitors.” This list included the deceased leader of the Taliban, Akhtar Mansour, and current deputy prime minister of the Taliban regime Mullah Baradar alongside ex-presidents of Afghanistan Karzai and Ghani, as well as historic Afghan rulers Shah Shujah and Amanullah Khan. This peculiar list also includes Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and Colonel Imam, a Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) operative credited with training the early Taliban forces, and assassinated by the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in 2011. The article argues that the Taliban, while claiming to follow the “correct” religious path, befriends Russia and China and met with representatives of the U.S. and Qatar and joined them in their war against ISIS-K.

Finally, highlighting the growing importance of West Africa and the Sahel region for ISIS, the November 1 edition of Voice of Khorasan also included an article on the history of French colonialism in Africa. This peculiar geographic focus appears to have been triggered by the official end of the French military counterterrorism Operation Barkhane in the Sahel at the beginning of November 2022. Given the security vacuum left behind by the French forces, this article could be indicate that ISIS may be planning to expand its operations into regions in which currently the al-Qaeda coalition Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), the primary adversary of Barkhane, operates. Currently, ISIS’s center of gravity in the region is the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which formed out of the Nigerian al-Qaeda affiliate Boko Haram and primarily operates in the Lake Chad Basin.

Afghanistan Terrorism Report

November 2022

Table of contents

1. ISIS November Al-Naba Newsletters
2. Sample of Pro-ISIS Online Chatter
3. ISIS Amaq Statements
4. Voice of Khorasan Web Magazine Issue 17, Released by al-Azaim Media Foundation on November 1, 2022
5. Voice of Khorasan Web Magazine Issue 18, Released by al-Azaim Media Foundation on November 25, 2022
6. ISIS Amaq Photoset Released December 1, 2022

1. ISIS November Al-Naba Newsletters

ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 363, Published November 3, 2022

• “20 Taliban militants were killed and wounded in a bold attack in Khorasan”

“About 20 Taliban militia were killed and wounded this week, and their vehicles were damaged by a daring attack carried out by a soldier of the Caliphate in the Herat region of Khorasan.”

• “20 Taliban killed and wounded in an attack on a bus in Herat”

“And in the details, by the grace of God Almighty, an Inghamisi from the soldiers of the Caliphate attacked on Thursday (2/ Rabi’ al-Akhir) a transport bus that was loaded with elements of the apostate Taliban militia, in (15th district) of Herat city, with machine guns and a hand grenade, which resulted in the killing and wounding of about 20 members, and the bus was damaged, praise be to God. Amaq News Agency published bold footage that showed the Mujahid standing in the way of the bus face to face, then rushes it with bursts of bullets from his rifle, before detonating a grenade in the middle of it, and withdrawing from the place, praise be to God.”

• “Last week”

“Last week, the soldiers of the Khilafah in the province of Khorasan damaged a vehicle of the Taliban militia, killing and wounding those in it with an explosion in the capital (Kabul), and they also killed a member of the Pakistani police in another attack in the city of (Peshawar).”

• “Attacking a bus carrying Taliban militia members in (Area 15) in the city (Herat)”

ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 364, Published November 10, 2022

• “A vehicle of the Taliban militia was damaged by an explosion in (Nangarhar)”

“By the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the Caliphate detonated an explosive device on Friday (10 Rabi’ al-Akhir) on a vehicle of the apostate Taliban militia, in the (Achin) area in (Nangarhar), which led to its damage, killing and wounding those in it, and praise be to God.”

• “Last Week”

“The soldiers of the Khilafah in the province of Khorasan had killed and wounded about 20 Taliban militiamen during the past week and damaged their vehicles in a bold attack in the Herat region.”

ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 365, Published November 17, 2022

• “Assassination of a member of the Pakistani intelligence in southern Pakistan”

“Killing a member of the Pakistani intelligence this week by the Mujahideen in southern Pakistan. In detail, by the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted, on Saturday (18 Rabi’ al-Akhir), a member of the apostate Pakistani intelligence, in the village of (Shisha Daghar) in the area of (Qalat) in (Baluchistan), with pistol shots, which led to his death, praise be to God.”

ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 366, Published November 24, 2022

• “The assassination of one of the evil preachers fighting the Mujahideen in (Akbel)”

“The soldiers of the Caliphate in the province of Khorasan this week assassinated one of the apostate evil preachers in (Kabul). In detail, with the help of God Almighty, on Thursday (23 Rabi’ al-Akhar), the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted one of the apostate evil preachers who was involved in fighting the Mujahideen with his companion, in (District 8) in the city of Kabul, with pistol shots, which led to their death, praise be to God.”

• “Last week”

“Last week, the soldiers of the Caliphate in the province of Khorasan assassinated an officer in the Pakistani police in the region of (Peshawar), after targeting him with machine guns.”

ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 367, Published December 1, 2022

• “A Taliban member and two Pakistani government spies were killed by three assassinations in Khorasan”

“This week, the soldiers of the Caliphate in Khorasan Province assassinated two spies for the Pakistani government and a member of the Taliban militia, in three separate operations in the (Kunar) region and the (Bajaur) border region with Afghanistan.”

• “Assassination of two spies in (Bajaur)”

“And in the details, with the grace of God Almighty, on Friday (1 / Jumada al-Awwal), the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted a spy of the apostate Pakistani Intelligence, in (Mamond) area in (Bajaur), by detonating an explosive device, which led to his death, praise be to God. In the same context, on Sunday (3 Jumada al-Awwal), the Mujahideen targeted a second spy of the apostate Pakistani government in the area of (Inayat Kali) in (Bajaur) too, with pistol shots, and they shot him dead, praise be to God.”

• “Assassination of a Taliban member in (Kunar) region”

“On the other hand, on Monday (4 Jumada al-Awwal), the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted a member of the apostate Taliban militia, in the village of Duql in the Suki district of Kunar, with machine guns, which led to his death, and the Mujahideen seized his rifle, praise be to God.”

• “Last week”

“The soldiers of the Caliphate in the province of Khorasan had assassinated, during the past week, one of the apostate preachers of evil in the capital (Kabul), after targeting him with pistol bullets.”

• “Seizing the rifle of a Taliban militia member who was killed by the Mujahideen in the Suki area of Kunar”

2. Sample of Pro-ISIS Online Chatter

• November 1: Pro-ISIS Telegram post alleging that the Taliban is receiving money from the U.S. as a payment for mercenary services.

“#Khorasan. $40 million in cash reached the mercenary emirate from their American operators…Within a year since they installed tyrants of the country, they received huge sums from America in exchange for their great services.”

• November 2: Pro-ISIS Telegram post claiming that a vehicle carrying employees of the Ministry of Rural Development and Rehabilitation was attacked in Kabul.

“#Khorasan. A coaster-type vehicle carrying employees of the Ministry of Rural Development and Rehabilitation of the apostate Taliban militia was targeted by an explosion in the center of Silo, part of the fifth district in Kabul…”

• November 2: Pro-ISIS Telegram post claiming that the Taliban have been receiving cash injections of $32 million per week, and that it is increasing.

“#Khorasan. In just a week, the state bank controlled by the apostate Taliban: The second cash package of $40 million in cash has arrived in Kabul this week…Since August 15, 2021, the West has been injecting a weekly cash package of $32 million into the apostate Taliban banks…The amount has been increasing lately.”

• November 2: Pro-ISIS Telegram post claiming that opium production has increased by 32% under the Taliban, citing a recent report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

“#Khorasan. Opium production in Afghanistan increased by 32% under the rule of the apostate Taliban militia.

https://unodc.org/documents/crop-monitoring/Afghanistan/Opium_cultivation_Afghanistan_2022.pdf”

• November 4: Pro-ISIS Telegram post regarding cash transfers to the Taliban. The post claims that the Taliban are corrupt and possibly misappropriating funds meant to fight poverty in the country. The post also claims that “poverty, suicide, theft and crimes” have gotten worse.

“#Khorasan. Since the apostate Taliban militia took power in Afghanistan, America has sent more than 1.1 billion dollars in cash on thirty-four (34) to the militia, the last of which was two payments of 40 million in just two days.

The purpose of sending this money is clear; The fight against the economic crisis in #Afghanistan is not intended to be handed over to the apostate militia, but...it turned out to be impossible to determine where the money intended for the poor is spent… The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (a special body of the US Congress) complained about this in the quarterly report, and mentioned The militia categorically refuses to specify the destination of the large sums of money that they receive once or twice every two weeks, arguing that the matter is outside the authority of the Inspector General.

Meanwhile, the social situation in the country worsened, poverty, suicide, theft and crimes spread in broad daylight, and the country's economy was restored to what it was in the nineties of the last century.”

• November 4: Pro-ISIS Telegram post claiming that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps are committing largescale killings of Sunnis in Baluchistan and that the Taliban, Hamas, and al-Qaeda would rather condemn the Shiraz attack than criticize Iran.

“#Meditation. The Magian Revolutionary Guards are committing massacres against the Sunni Baluch in Iran, the rejected Taliban, the Rafidih Hamas and the captives of the apostate Al-Qaeda and the others, mourning the decimated Shiite rejection of Shiraz, and urging dirt on their heads.”

• November 4: Pro-ISIS Telegram post claiming that there is a religious test for employment in Nangarhar, at least regarding teachers, and claiming that Salafis and Wahhabis are not allowed to work. The post states that al-Qaeda supports the Taliban despite their actions.

“#Khorasan. The apostate Taliban militia, the Sufi, the Ash`ari Deobandi, the heretical polytheistic, verifying the beliefs of job candidates. Testimony of a candidate for the position of teacher in Nangarhar Province. It was published by Al-Radha Intelligence.

This certificate says: that the candidate has no criminal record; But he is a Sunni, Salafi, and his creed is Wahhabi... with the refusal of employment. Wahhabism in the customs of the apostate Taliban dogs is the Sunnah on the path of the righteous predecessors.

And do not forget that the captives of the apostate Al-Qaeda pledge allegiance to these immoral people, a great pledge of allegiance! God bless them all…”

• November 4: Pro-ISIS Telegram post criticizing the opening of a Sufi school in Kabul and claiming that Sunni schools are being closed and workers denied jobs after being accused of harboring Wahhabi beliefs.

“#Emirate_Khawarij. They invite, honor, and draw close to the people of heresy, polytheism, and blatant infidelity, and they fight and kill the people of Islam and the Sunnah.

The opening of a Sufi school, a Naqshbandi Ataturk tomb in Kabul, in return, the closure of mosques and Sunni schools and the expulsion of workers on charges of Wahhabism.”

• November 6: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that Mullah Omar’s tomb resembles a shrine, which could become a site of grave worship.

“#Khorasan.  The apostate Taliban militia claimed that this is the tomb of Mullah Omar. They made it like a shrine alone in an empty space... as if they were preparing it to be a shrine...”

• November 7: Pro-ISIS Telegram post mocking Sirajuddin Haqqani for telling Taliban members to maintain personal hygiene and use perfume/musk.

“#Khorasan. The head of the Haqqani intelligence network and the actual driver of the apostate Taliban militia asks his elements to clean themselves and use perfume. It seems that there were many complaints about their smell.”

• November 7: Pro-ISIS Telegram post alleging that the Taliban are hypocrites for erecting a shrine to Mullah Omar, and that all graves, statues, and shrines should be destroyed. The post states that one day the shrine will be destroyed.

“#Khorasan.  They made the graves of those who fought shrines and shrines a shrine.

Leaders of the apostate Taliban militia make pilgrimages in giraffes to Mullah Omar's grave and urge people to imitate them.

Abu Dawud reported in his Sahih the hadith of Ali, may God be pleased with him, that he said to Abu al-Hayyaj al-Asadi: ‘Should I not send you to what the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) sent me for: I will not leave an honorable grave without leveling it, and no statue without obliterating it.’

Soon, when that shrine explodes, the wailing of captives and tartars will reach the planet Emerald.”

• November 7: Pro-ISIS Telegram post regarding another cash infusion. The post alleges that the money are “the wages of” America’s “guard dogs,” the Taliban.

“#Khorasan. The arrival of the wages of guard dogs America …Today, a plane loaded with $40 million cash landed at Kabul International Airport…”

• November 7: Pro-ISIS Telegram post alleging that the Haqqani network forced the Pakistani Taliban to stop recruiting non-Pakistanis.

“#Khorasan. Caving to pressure from the Haqqani Intelligence Network, the Pakistani Taliban militia stopped recruiting foreigners into the militia in its spokesman's statement. The statement also adds that those non-Pakistani fighters who want to join should stop and it is better for them to call the militia or give it financially.”

• November 9: Telegram post alleging that Afghans are being arrested and deported from Pakistan.

“#Pakistan. Arresting Afghans and preparing for their expulsion from the country.”

• November 10: Pro-ISIS Telegram post claiming that cash infusions to Afghanistan doubled after the killing of Zawahiri, and that the Taliban received also received a single large payment.

“#Khorasan. Yesterday, a financial package of $40 million in cash arrived... and this is the second package in a week...

Since the destruction of the captives Al-Zawahiri, the financial aid has increased from 40 million to 80 million in one week, and the apostate Taliban militia received half a billion dollars in cash after the captivity’s destruction…

On the other hand, a plane landed today loaded with billions of newly printed Afghani currency, and more than 3.5 billion are expected to arrive gradually in the coming days.”

• November 11: Pro-ISIS RocketChat post stating that the Taliban are persecuting Wahhabis. The letter, allegedly from the Nangarhar intelligence chief, states that a teacher “has no criminal record but is a Wahhabi.”
• November 12: Pro-ISIS Telegram post accusing the Taliban of kidnapping, torturing, and murdering the son of a cleric and two school teachers because they are Salafis. The post states that Taliban intelligence asked educational institutions to send them lists of Salafi teachers. The post states that the Taliban are killing Salafis while they “bring the people of polytheism closer.”

“#Khorasan. The apostate Taliban militia kidnapped 3 days ago in Jalalabad the son of a Salafi sheikh (pictured) along with two school teachers, after they were tortured and executed because of their religion. At the same time, the apostate militia intensified its war against Salafism (Wahhabism, as they call it), so the intelligence of the apostate militia sent letters to all educational institutions asking them to give them a list of teachers with Salafi beliefs…

They kill the people of Islam and bring the people of polytheism closer, so who are the Kharijites, O captives of the apostate Al-Qaeda?! ...”

• November 12: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that there were explosions and gunfire in the Khair Khāna neighborhood of Kabul.

“#urgent. Explosions and heavy gunfire in Khair Khana, Kabul...”

• November 12: Pro-ISIS Telegram post alleging that the Taliban are corrupt and are not properly provisioning their troops. The post states that the Taliban receive $80 million per week, but their soldiers receive bare rations.

“#Khorasan. A member of the apostate Taliban militia complains about the lack of lunch supplies for a whole month sent to his group, saying: ‘I don't know if the militia is really suffering from an economic crisis or is it deliberately treating us like this.’

Every week, the apostate militia arrives at $80 million in cash, and two days ago a plane loaded with one and a half billion Afghanis (the local currency) landed recently printed in Europe.

Where does this money go?! The answer is crystal clear at the fourth of the day.”

• November 12: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that the Taliban received $560 million from the U.S. and U.S. allies within ten weeks, and that the Taliban are fighting ISIS-K as part of the deal.

“#Meditation. In the last ten (10) weeks, the apostate Taliban militia received $560,000,000 from its enemy America and its allies!!

In return, customers receive incendiary and phosphorous bombs, and Abu Um Wajd, Abu Khalil’s uncle, bombs, an alliance of eighty nations, and an increase in a wild war.

#winter_stan”

• November 13: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that the Taliban’s governor of Kandahar met with Hazara representatives and discussed “equality and coexistence.”

“#Khorasan. The governor of the apostate Taliban militia in the city of Kandahar meets with representatives of the polytheistic Rawafid Hazaras and discusses with them equality and coexistence.”

• November 16: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that the Taliban are liars for denying participating in border clashes with Pakistan.

“#Khorasan. The liar Zabih Apostasy Mujahid, the official trumpet of the apostate Taliban militia, came out, denying the connection of the shooters of the Pakistani border guards with the militia...,

Although we see in the clip who shot and then who returned to shoot the surveillance camera in an attempt to obscure the incident…

People who have adopted lying as a religion...”

• November 16: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that thieves are not being punished according to religious law. The post states that the Taliban follow Pashtunwali and not religious laws.

“#Khorasan. The thief paints his face black. The Pashtunwali is the religion of Deobandi, the apostate Taliban.”

• November 16: Pro-ISIS Telegram post (repost) claiming that the loya jirga and Pustunwali are un-Islamic. The post states that the Taliban follow pre-Islamic codes that have remained with the Pashtun ethnic group.

#loya_jirga: (Pashto: loya jirga, ‘the great gathering’)

It is a special type of jirga, or assembly of government, in Pashtunwali*, the customary tribal law of the constitution of the Pashtun people. It is organized mainly to choose a new tyrant of the state in the event of a sudden death, or the adoption of a new Kufri constitution, or to settle national or regional issues such as war or any other conflict. The Constitution of the Loya Jirga predates the written or immutable man-made laws of the modern era and is mostly preferred, to a lesser extent, by other neighboring groups influenced by the Pashtuns.

In Afghanistan, the Loya Jirga has been organized since at least the early eighteenth century when the Hotaki and Durrani dynasties rose to power.

---------------------------------

#Pashtunuli (Pashto: Pښtonuli) is a traditional way of life and is best described as a #symbol of honor for the Pashtun people, in which they live and is matched by intolerance and patriotism.

Pashtun elders interpreted it as ‘the path of the Afghans’ or ‘the law of life.’ Pashtunwali is widely practiced by the Pashtuns in the Pashtunistan regions of Afghanistan, Khyber Pashtunkwa and northern Baluchistan.

The history of #Pashtunwali goes back to pre-Islamic times

The apostate Taliban is still on trial in the Loya Jirga with the tribal elders, and the apostate Taliban is made up of at least 90% of the Pashtuns and the organization has a severe ignorant diet for the Pashtun ethnicity.”

• November 16: Pro-ISIS Telegram post accusing the Taliban of constitutionalism, rather than divine law.

“#from their _ mouths. Open disbelief and outright polytheism of the apostate Taliban militia, as it has been proven with conclusive evidence that they are dealing with the infidel constitution. English Audio. Arabic Sub. #bright_clips”

• November 17: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that unknown gunmen killed Taliban affiliated religious official, Qari Najibullah Azizi, in Kabul.”

“#Khorasan. Unidentified gunmen in a car killed a sheikh of the apostate Taliban, Qari Najibullah Azizi, at the Hazrat Abu Bakr Al Siddiq Mosque at dawn today, Thursday.”

• November 17: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that a Pakistani Taliban commander, known as Zakirin, was killed. The post states that several TTP leaders have been killed in Afghanistan, alleging that the Haqqani network has been playing a role.

“#Khorasan. Yesterday, in the Afghan province of Paktia, one of the main field commanders of the Pakistani Taliban militia, called Zakirin, who was responsible for the attacks in the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan, was killed.

Many Pakistani militia leaders were killed in Afghanistan, including those who participated in negotiations with the Pakistani government. All fingers point to the Haqqani intelligence network.”

• November 18: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that a Pakistani Taliban leader, Saifullah Babuji, was found dead in a canal in Bati Kot, Nangarhar. The post states that the Taliban have become mercenaries, in exchange for $80 million currency shipments each week. The post states that al-Qaeda are hypocrites for supporting the Taliban.

“#Khorasan. A leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Saifullah Babuji, was found dead in mysterious circumstances in a water canal in Bati Kot district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed, but sources on the ground confirm that it was a liquidation.

The apostate Taliban militia has become a hired killer and pays $80 million in cash every week.

O captives of the apostate Al Qaeda, your masters who fight the soldiers of the Islamic State are the same ones who kill the elements and leaders of the Pakistani Taliban militia who have pledged allegiance to them… and they themselves are the ones who deny your #Great_Allegiance.

So to what point have you reached, you who lack chivalry... As for modesty, there is no such thing as him.”

• November 18: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that the Taliban will allow foreigners “to practice forbidden things, such as drinking alcohol, fornication and blasphemy.”

“#Khorasan. The dog says that he will allow foreign infidels to practice forbidden things, such as drinking alcohol, fornication and blasphemy, on the land of Khurasan...”

• November 18: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that a Taliban soldier involved in the confrontation at the Spin Buldak border crossing had “declared jihad against Pakistan” due to their disrespect towards Afghans.

“#See. The soldier from the apostate Taliban militia who shot Pakistani soldiers at the Spin Boldak border crossing, declares jihad against Pakistan and encourages the rest of the apostate militia members to do so... He says the attack was a defense, accusing the Pakistani soldiers of disrespecting the Afghans… The militia's tyrants praise him and trade his pieces, in return the apostate Taliban denies his connection with them or even his knowledge…”

• November 18: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that the Taliban agreed to the Doha agreement despite provisions that Afghanistan will not cooperate with terrorist groups and not threaten its neighbors. The post states that permanent peace treaties with non-Muslims are forbidden, and that the treaty supplants religious commandments.

“#See. A leaked audio message of a preacher Talabani directed to the leadership of the spy Mullah Baradar in the year 2019…

The so-called Nizar Muhammad al-Afghani, in a special message to the leadership, says that the Doha agreement contains provisions that are forbidden by Sharia, namely, the end of jihad indefinitely...

He says that he fears his fate on the Day of Resurrection because of supporting such a deal…

He added that stopping the jihad is an American conspiracy to sow the seeds of our destruction and ‘an attempt to strip the clothes of jihad from the character of our fighters.’

He also said that never before in Islamic history there was a permanent peace treaty with the infidels, but for a limited and short period…

He added that a permanent peace treaty contradicts the Qur’an and that comprehensive jihad without restrictions is the consensus of the predecessors... He mentioned the hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that jihad will go on until the Hour of Resurrection…

Here he quotes hadiths saying that jihad will continue until the last hour

And he said that if any Muslim strives against the head of infidelity in America, then we must stand by the United States in accordance with the Doha Agreement, and this is open blasphemy.

He stated that the army of the monotheists with black flags would be from Khorasan (they know that well, but it is the greatest). #Follow”

• November 20: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the Taliban made a secret deal to turn over the border guard who opened fire on Pakistani border troops on November 13.

“#Khorasan. The apostate Taliban militia will hand over Bilal, the target of the Pakistani border guards, to the Pakistani authorities. According to what was reported, the apostate militia tried to conceal the deal…”

• November 21: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that Iran has proposed joint coordinated action with the Taliban against ISIS-K.

“#Khorasan. Iran's magi propose joint cooperation with the apostate Taliban militia in the war against the Islamic State…As if it was the result of the moment…”

• November 21: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that an explosion occurred in Takhar near the Court of Appeals.

“#Urgent. #Khorasan.  An explosion sounded moments ago near the Court of Appeal of Takhar city…”

• November 21: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that a Taliban vehicle was hit with explosives, killing two.

“#Khorasan. An explosion targeted a vehicle of the apostate Taliban militia, killing two.”

• November 22: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that the Taliban protect the sites of religious minorities in Afghanistan. The post states that Muhammad Mohsin has been appointed governor of Panjshir, and that he will protect the grave of Ahmad Shah Masoud.

“#Khorasan. The apostate Taliban militia is the protector of shrines, polytheistic shrines, Buddhist idols, and the erected Rafidite Husayniyyat and Jewish temples.

Assigning the apostate Mawlawi Muhammad Mohsin, the governor of the apostate Taliban militia in Panjshir, to put a bodyguard to protect the shrine of the apostate, apostate Ahmad Shah Masoud.

This is after it was broken three times.”

• November 22: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that an explosion occurred in a market in Takhar district, right outside of a Taliban security headquarters and city court.

“#Khorasan. #Urgent. An explosion occurred in Dasht Qala market in Takhar district, in front of the security headquarters of the apostate Taliban militia and the city court…”

• November 22: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that the Taliban deputy foreign minister’s son posted a doctored photo on Twitter, showing the Taliban flag at the UN.

“#Khorasan. The son of the deputy foreign minister of the apostate Taliban militia, the apostate Abbas Stanikzai, posted a fake photoshop and wrote that the blind banner of the apostate militia was installed at the headquarters of the atheist nations…

This shows how desperate the apostate militia is to gain recognition and join the godless nations...”

• November 23: Pro-ISIS Telegram post alleging that the Taliban are hypocrites for having diplomatic relations with the Indian government, while anti-Muslim violence occurs in the country.

“#See. #India. A pagan Hindu beats a 9-year-old Muslim girl and throws her to the ground. The same Hindu protects them, the apostate Taliban, defends them dearly and considers them as brothers of the idol.

If the monotheists killed them, they would rise up. If they burn their pagan temples, they will be restored and prepared. About the guardians of the captives and the slanderers, the dogs of the apostate Al-Qaeda.”

• November 24: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that the Taliban is receiving direct funding from the U.S. to fight ISIS-K.

“#Khorasan. After the apostate Taliban militia met with the CIA last month in Doha, and several reports were circulated proving that America directly funds the militia to fight the Islamic State in Afghanistan…

It is reported that the apostate Taliban militia received $20 million directly from America to fight the Islamic State.”

• November 24: Pro-ISIS Telegram post claiming that the Taliban were the first to congratulate the new Prime Minister of Malaysia.

“A new tyrant was elected to Malaysia, and the apostate Taliban was the first to congratulate the apostate for his apostasy.”

• November 27: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that the Taliban’s politics are “acrobatic,” and that the U.S. will not be satisfied with the Taliban until they adopt the religious traditions of non-Muslims and fight against Muslims.

Tweet: “Brothers ask me: Is it true that the Taliban allowed the Shiites to hold Ashura rituals? Indeed, you allowed it until you reach the goal. You have to hold on until you can, and then start implementing your goals. For example, until now, some and honey are being sold in the streets, and it as not been banned.”

“#Talebani _ adherence In order to reach the goal, you have to hold on to be able!? Acrobatic politics and a new term used by the Taliban Hashshis after they took control of all of Afghanistan,

They do not consider themselves empowered, because empowerment for them does not lie until after America is satisfied with them, and America will not be satisfied with them until they perform the rituals of all polytheistic religions and fight the religion of the one and only God.”

• November 27: Pro-ISIS Telegram post claiming that the Taliban are encouraging Salafis to change sects (the video dates from at least 2021).

“#Meditation. The infidels of the Taliban are repenting of one of the Salafis and taking a covenant from him not to return to his religion, after he pledged to them to follow their polytheistic doctrine. Some ignorant hypocrites still sympathize with this polytheistic movement.”

• November 27: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that the West is cooperating with the Taliban because the latter has fundamentally changed and erred from the correct religious path.

“#Meditation. The Crusaders are cooperating with the Taliban because the movement has changed, and the change here means that the movement has left extremism, terrorism and the religion of Islam and has become a religion with which it is satisfied with them.”

• November 29: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that the Taliban have received “their salaries in a package estimated at 40 million dollars.”

“#Khorasan. The bank of the apostate Taliban militia announces the arrival of their salaries in a package estimated at 40 million dollars…”

• November 29: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that a Taliban member posted on Twitter that “honest people” have been “removed and replaced by sycophants and foreign spies” within the Taliban.

“#Khorasan. One of the active tartars on social media: ‘(Government) systems collapse when honest people are removed and replaced by sycophants and foreign spies. This matter is running in full swing now in the Taliban. If the Taliban leadership does not prevent or pay attention to this problem, our system will face disaster…’”

• November 30: Pro-ISIS Telegram post stating that an explosion at a school killed at least 15 people and injured 27 others.

“#Khorasan. An explosion at the Aybak City School in Afghanistan. According to preliminary data, fifteen people were killed and twenty-seven others were injured.”

3. ISIS Amaq Statements

• November 5: ISIS-K claims to have killed and wounded several Taliban members in Nangarhar after an attack with explosives on a vehicle.

“By the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the Caliphate detonated an explosive device on a vehicle of the apostate Taliban militia, in (Achin) area in (Nangarhar) yesterday, which led to its damage and killing and wounding of those in it, praise be to God.”

• November 11: ISIS-K claims to have killed a Pakistani police officer in Peshawar.

“Khorasan Province With the help of God Almighty, the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted an officer in the apostate Pakistani police, in the Jamrud area in (Peshawar) yesterday, with a machine gun, which led to his death, praise be to God.”

• November 18: ISIS-K claims to have killed an “evil preacher” in Kabul, referring to the November 17 killing of Qari Najibullah Azizi.

“Khorasan Province, with the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted one of the apostate evil preachers involved in fighting the Mujahideen with his companion, in (District 8) in the city of (Kabul) yesterday, with pistol shots, which led to their death, and praise be to God.”

• November 26: ISIS-K claims to have killed an individual allegedly spying for Pakistani intelligence in Bajaur with an explosive device.

“Khorasan Province. By the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted a spy for the apostate Pakistani intelligence, in (Mamund) area in (Bajaur) yesterday, by detonating an explosive device, which led to his death, praise be to God.”

• November 27: ISIS-K claims to have killed an individual allegedly spying for Pakistani intelligence in Bajaur.

“Khorasan Province. By the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted a spy for the apostate Pakistani government, in the (Enayat Kali) area in (Bajaur), with pistol shots, which led to his death, praise be to God.”

• November 29: ISIS-K claims to have killed a member of the Taliban in Kunar and taken his weapon.

“Khorasan Province, by the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted a member of the apostate Taliban militia, in the village of (Dukul) in the (Sukki) region of (Kunar) yesterday, with a machine gun, which led to his death, and the Mujahideen seized his gun, and praise be to God.”

4. Voice of Khorasan Web Magazine Issue 17, Released by al-Azaim Media Foundation on November 1, 2022

Article 1: Palace Worship Can’t Protect Them From the Reckoning of Allah

• Shaykh Yusef Qardawi was blasphemous and sought to increase his own power, and that of Qatar.
• Qardawi was a supporter of democracy. While Qardawi’s supporters have argued this was a way to insert their movement into Europe, they have “contaminated” the message.
• If democracy was the way forward, the Prophet Muhammad would have decreed it.

Article 2: Ruling on Those Judging by Laws Other Than Those Revealed by Allah

• An article about shirk.
• There are three cases of ruling by laws other than religious laws.
  • Those who believe in religious laws, but might not implement it in certain cases (such as involving a family member or after receiving a bribe).
  • The creation of a law and ruling by it. This is a human made law.
  • Ruling by secular non-religious laws. Replacing religious law with secular law.
  • Ignorance of religious law is only excusable:
    • If someone lives far from other people and does not have access to knowledge from scholars.
    • If a recent convert does not have the required knowledge

Article 3: Hamas in Sham and Taliban in Khorasan (2)

• The leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, is sympathetic towards Iran.
• Hamas and the Taliban are similar in that they are both nationalist organizations, and have sought to take power through illegitimate means.
• Hamas has links to Qatar and the Assad regime in Syria.
• Hamas and the Taliban both seek to gain power any way they can, including through democratic means. Both groups have suspended the enforcement of religious law. They have both falsely claimed to support the implementation of religious law in the past.
• The Taliban maintain relations with the government of China, despite the latter’s treatment of the Uyghurs.
• Hamas is friendly with Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Islamic Jihad.
• Iran uses Hamas and the Taliban as pawns in the region to prevent the growth of ISIS.
  • The Taliban acts as a proxy of Iran and distributes aid in Afghanistan to encourage the reliance of the populace on Iran.
  • Hamas has similarly fought against ISIS in Palestine.
• Iran is also trying to gain influence on the Arabian Peninsula.
• Israeli attacks on Palestinians and Muslims are condemned by the Muslim world, but Western attacks on ISIS and ISIS held territory are not similarly condemned.
• China has also escaped criticism, including from the Taliban, despite atrocities they have committed against the Uyghurs.
• Hamas took part in Parliamentary elections in 2006.
• The Taliban have not instituted religious law even after they took over Afghanistan. They are trying to fool their rank and file that religious law will eventually be implemented, however they will eventually move towards democracy to satisfy the international community.
• The Taliban are showing their loyalty to the West by attacking ISIS-K.
• Hamas has been growing closer to the Turkish government, opening an office in Ankara, as well as Russia.
• Both Hamas and the Taliban prevent attacks on diplomats and pursue nationalist aims.

Article 4: Don’t Let Satan Sit Your Way to Jihad

• Satan tries to prevent people from engaging in fighting and eventual martyrdom.
• People are unwilling to emigrate to participate in fighting.
• Hypocrites try to avoid fighting. Even worse are those who try to persuade others not to fight.

Article 5: Memories of Shuhada: Abu Khalid al-Hindi-Taqabballah

• Article about Abu Khalid al-Hindi, who committed the March 2020 attack on a Sikh Gurdwara in Kabul, killing 25 and injuring many others.
• Abu Khalid grew up in Kasaragod, Kerala, India and is described as hating non-Muslims from childhood.
• Abu Khalid performed the Hajj and also traveled to Dubai and Malaysia.
• He initially joined a nationalist political party, but left after he saw “that their leaders were calling for nationalism, patriotism, and innovations.”
• His relatives were a barrier to emigration, but he eventually joined ISIS-K in Afghanistan.
• Abu Khalid was injured by a mortar in Nangarhar, but refused to be evacuated from the battlefield.
• Abu Khalid is described as being generous and selfless.
• Abu Khalid’s attack on the Kabul Gurdwara is described.

Article 6: Modesty is a Gift for Women

• The modern world has pushed men and women to compete with one another.
• A story about extreme modesty and why men and women should be separated.

Article 7: French Colonization in Africa and Their Barbarism on Muslims

• The French portrayed their colonial endeavors in Africa as a “civilizing” mission.
• The French tried to wipe out Islam through assimilationist policies. This involved importing and imposing French customs, language, religion, and legal system on their colonies.
  • Only those who embraced a French lifestyle could be appointed Imams.
  • Algerian Muslims were subject to discriminatory laws under French rule.
  • The French sought to create a “French Islam.”
• The British were more successful colonialists through indirect rule.
• The French turned mosques into churches and killed over one million Muslims in Algeria and heavily mined the country before withdrawing in 1962.
• When fighting the National Liberation Front (FNLN) in Algeria, anti-Muslims actions were committed by French authorities both in Algeria and France.

5. Voice of Khorasan Web Magazine Issue 18, Released by al-Azaim Media Foundation on November 25, 2022

Article 1: “There Will Be Enmity and Hatred Between Us and You Until You Believe in Allah”

• Historical caliphates have been destroyed by traitors seeking worldly gains.
• Religious rule has been traded for human made systems of laws and governance, and turning the youth into “mercenaries of the west.”
• Those who advocate for the caliphate are then portrayed as evil.
• So called Muslims have abandoned the correct religious path to support technocrats.
• A list of modern traitors is listed: Shah Shujah, Amanullah Khan, Mustafa Kamal Ataturk, Hamid Karzai, Ashraf Ghani, Colonel Imam, Akhtar Mansoor, and Mullah Baradar.
• Do not be deceitful or sinful.
• ISIS must treat traitors and those who do not believe in the caliphate harshly.
• The Taliban claim to be following the religious path, yet they attack ISIS-K, have made friendships with Russia and China.
• The Taliban met with the U.S. in Qatar and have declared a joint war against ISIS-K.
• At the same time the Taliban have instituted democratic principles and made friendships with secular states.
• The Taliban scholar Abdul Sattar Saeed stated that Mustafa Kamal Ataturk abolished the Ottoman Caliphate, created a secular government, banned the use of Arabic for the call to prayer and the use of Arabic script.
  • Despite these activities, the Taliban celebrated Turkish Republic Day.
  • If the Taliban engage in this hypocrisy, will they celebrate the national holidays of other states?
• Turkey is a member of NATO and participated in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.
• The U.S. is enacting a plan through their base in Qatar to “misguide the Muslim Ummah” via the Taliban.

Article 2: “The Virtues of Good Conduct in Islam”

• Being a good example to others through proper conduct is important.
• It is importance to spread Salaam when greeting others, even if you do not know them, as well as smile and give gifts.
• Do not be wrathful.
• Take care of your neighbors.

Article 3: “Kufr and its Kinds”

• Examples of disbelief: denial and rejection, hypocrisy, doubt.
• Full belief is necessary for the completion of faith.
• Disbelief of denial and rejection:
  • Disbelief in the heart or outward rejection.
  • Permitting what is forbidden.
• Disbelief of hypocrisy:
  • Those who claim to be religious believers, but in fact are not.
  • They are on the side of polytheists.
• Disbelief of doubt:
  • Doubting the truth or religious texts.

Article 4: “Memories of Shuhadah: Asadullah al-Urgenchi”

• Asadullah al-Urgenchi is well known among Uzbek fighters.
• Al-Urgenchi was born in Urgench, Uzbekistan in 1976.
• In 1999 al-Urgenchi immigrated to Tajikistan for 8 months before eventually moving to Afghanistan with his family, where he joined the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU).
•  Al-Urgenchi worked in the media propaganda department for the organization, where he wrote poems, and became a reciter of nasheeds.
• Al-Urgenchi can be considered was the creator of modern Uzbek nasheeds.
• After the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, al-Urgenchi fled to Pakistan, where he began writing books, edited the “Khurasan Army” newspaper, and continued to produce propaganda works.
• He became the head of the IMU Jundullah media studio.
• Al-Urgenchi went back to Afghanistan in 2016, and pledged his allegiance to ISIS-K, moving to Nangarhar. He became ISIS-K’s “promotional media officer.”
• Al-Urgenchi was specifically targeted by the U.S. and on November 25, 2018, he was killed in a drone strike.

Article 5: “There Will Be Enmity and Hatred Between Us and You Until You Believe in Allah”

• The best way to show enmity and hatred towards non-believers is to fight them.

Article 6: “Taliban: The Patronizer of Shirk and its People”

• The Taliban deviate from the correct path and have entered into a deal with the U.S.
• The Taliban participate in polytheism and the worshipping of graves and protect idols (Gurdwaras, churches, Shiite and Sufi religious sites).
• The Taliban have allowed the construction of graves which “function as mosques” and are venerated, contradicting religious teachings.
• Mosques cannot be built on top of graves.
• Writing on a marker on top of a grave is forbidden.
• Shrines on top of graves are forbidden because it is an example of “associating partners with Allah.”

Infographic: Information on joining the al-Azaim RocketChat channel

Article 7: “Those Who Are Excused From Fighting in the Way of Allah”

• The article lists those who are excused from fighting: children, women, patients, slaves, the “insane,” the blind, the “lame,” “hermaphrodites,” those who are too poor to afford fighting.
• If one does not fall into any of those categories, fighting is an obligation.

6. ISIS Amaq Photoset Released December 1, 2022

A series of photos released on December 1, 2022, as part of a multiprovince series that shows ISIS fighters pledging their allegiance to the new Caliph, Abu Al-Hussein Al-Husseini Al-Qurashi. The photos show 16 different ISIS-K groups.

A set of photos released on March 13 as part of a similar series that showed ISIS fighters pledging allegiance to Abu Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi included 19 different groups in Khorasan province.