Afghanistan Content Report: April 26 – May 2, 2025
Afghanistan Content Report
April 26 – May 2, 2025
Please note that all items in this issue concern ISIS-K
Table of contents
- ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 493, Published May 1, 2025
- Pro-ISIS Online Chatter
- ISIS Amaq/Nashir Statements
Main points (Pro-ISIS Online Chatter)
Afghanistan
- Three Taliban soldiers were killed and three were injured in an attack in Sherzad, Nangarhar.
- Unidentified gunmen killed a man in Balkh.
- Russia and the Taliban are working to improve their relationship.
- Taliban Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi said in an interview that his government wants to improve ties with the United States.
Pakistan
- Members of a Pakistani intelligence unit sustained casualties during fighting with ISIS in Balochistan.
- Nine members of a peace committee (local militias) in South Waziristan, including a local commander, were killed in a bombing.
- At least 71 Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters were killed by Pakistani soldiers crossing from Afghanistan into Pakistan.
- Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. envoy to Afghanistan, has called on the government of Pakistan to crack down on ISIS.
- Unidentified gunmen killed four Pakistani police officers at a checkpoint in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- There were multiple casualties among Pakistani police officers during fighting in Bannu.
- Two police officers were kidnapped in Tank, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- Three members of Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- Unidentified militants, likely Baloch separatists, allegedly took control of Mangocher, Balochistan.
1. ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 493, Published May 1, 2025
• There were no ISIS-K news items in this week’s al-Naba.
2. Pro-ISIS Online Chatter
- April 26: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that unidentified gunmen kidnapped two police officers in Tank, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Urgent. Armed men kidnapped two Pakistani police officers while they were conducting a routine patrol in the Tank area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They were taken to an unknown location. Police launched a security operation to search for them.”
- April 26: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. envoy to Afghanistan, has called on the government of Pakistan to crack down on ISIS within their borders.
Text: “The former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation [Zalmay Khalilzad] said credible reports are indicating that dangerous terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), remain present in Pakistan. Khalilzad said that ISIS maintains safe havens in Pakistan, adding that Islamabad must address the presence of ISIS and other terrorist groups on its soil, as this issue poses a serious threat not only to Pakistan but also to the entire region and the broader international community.”
“Statement. At the Taliban’s behest, Zalmay Khalilzad calls on the Pakistani government to do more to combat terrorism.”
- April 27: Pro-ISIS post on Element regarding improving relations between the Taliban and Russia.
- April 27: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram noting that the Taliban released a statement expressing “deep regret and shock over the Bandar Abbas” port explosion in Iran.
“The Afghan National Taliban Movement issued a statement expressing its deep regret and shock over the Bandar Abbas [Iran] explosion and offered condolences for the victims of the ‘noble Iranian people.’”
- April 27: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that in Balochistan, members of Pakistani intelligence killed one ISIS fighter and that another ISIS fighter “detonated an explosive belt,” which caused “casualties among government forces.”
“Follow-ups. A Pakistani intelligence force attempted to arrest two terrorists in the Dasht area of Balochistan province and fought with them. One of the terrorists was killed, while the other fighter detonated an explosive belt he was wearing, resulting in casualties among government forces.”
April 28: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that seven members of a peace committee (local militias) allied with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were killed in a bombing in South Waziristan. The perpetrators of the bombing are unknown. See
“Urgent. Reuters, citing Pakistani police, reported that at least seven members of a peace committee (local militias) affiliated with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were killed in a bombing targeting them during a meeting in South Waziristan, northwest of the country.
“A security official, Usman Wazir, said the explosion caused part of the building where the meeting was being held to collapse, adding that it was not yet clear who was behind the attack.”
- April 28: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that seven people were killed and 13 were injured in the South Waziristan bombing that targeted a peace committee building.
“Update. The death toll now stands at seven dead and 13 wounded from the armed peace committee
militia.”
- April 28: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the local peace committee leader, Saif ur Rehman, was thought to be present at the attack site and that it was unknown whether he was killed or wounded.
“Urgent. Among those targeted is the peace committee leader, Saif ur Rehman, and his fate is still unknown.”
- April 28: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that over 71 TTP fighters were killed by Pakistani soldiers as they crossed into the country from Afghanistan.
“Follow-ups. Local sources: More than 71 Pakistani Taliban fighters were killed by the Pakistani army as they crossed the Afghan border into Pakistan.”
- April 28: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that unidentified gunmen killed four Pakistani police officers at a checkpoint in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Urgent. Gunmen attack a Pakistani police checkpoint in Bajaur, killing and wounding four policemen, according to preliminary figures.”
- April 28: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that South Waziristan peace corps commander Saif ur Rehman died of his wounds, raising the death toll from the attack to nine.
“Urgent. Saif ur Rehman, the local commander of the peace committee in South Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, died of his wounds in hospital. The death toll from the IED [improvised explosive device] attack has reached nine.”
- April 29: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that three Taliban soldiers were killed and three were injured in an attack by unidentified gunmen in Sherzad, Nangarhar.
“Urgent. A gunman opened fire on Taliban forces at a military checkpoint in the Sherzad area of Nangarhar, Afghanistan, killing three soldiers and wounding three others.”
- April 29: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that a cook at a Taliban military facility killed soldiers while they slept. Posts indicate this attack is the same as in Sherzad, Nangarhar.
“Update. Local sources say that a cook at a Taliban military headquarters opened fire on the sleeping soldiers and fled to an unknown location.”
- April 29: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that unidentified gunmen killed a man in Balkh.
“Urgent. Gunmen attack a man in the northern Afghan city of Balkh, killing him.”
- April 30: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that unknown individuals detonated a car bomb in Tank, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Urgent: A car bomb exploded in the Pakistani city of Tank.”
- April 30: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that fighting between Pakistani police and unidentified militants in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, led to the deaths of one militant and three police officers, and the injuring of two other law enforcement officers.
“Urgent. Clashes between Pakistani police and militants in the city of Bannu resulted in the deaths of three police officers, the injury of two others, and the death of one militant.”
May 1: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that Taliban Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi told Al Jazeera in an interview that the Taliban condemns acts of violence and terrorism and wants to improve ties with the U.S., despite the latter not delivering on their promises. The post also claims
that Muttaqi also stated that the Taliban has released members of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan government from prison. See https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-194144.
“Follow-ups. The Foreign Minister of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to Al Jazeera:
“We condemn all incidents and acts of violence, whether in Pakistan or India, and we have offered our condolences to India.
“We seek to develop relations with the United States of America.
“We have fulfilled all American conditions, but the Americans have not fulfilled all their promises.
“We have released all opposition figures from the previous government at the request of the United States.
“The Afghan people are one.
“Observers send a video and audio copy to Asim al-Urduni [sic].”
- May 1: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that three members of Pakistan’s CTD were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. See https://khybernews.tv/ctd-officers-martyred-in-bannu-as-militantattacks-in-pakistan-continue-to-surge.
“Urgent. Three members of the counter-terrorism forces were killed in an attack carried out by gunmen in the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
- May 2: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that Russia has indicated that it is ready to help the Taliban fight ISIS-K.
Text: Russia announces its readiness to cooperate with the Taliban against ISIS and is gradually moving closer to normalizing relations with the Taliban. Security Cooperation: Russia, through its Special Envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, announced its readiness to assist the Taliban in combating the Khorasan branch of ISIS, describing this branch as a ‘common enemy.’”
“Follow-ups. Russia expresses its willingness to cooperate with the Afghan Taliban government in the fight against terrorism.”
- May 2: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that unidentified militants took control of Mangocher, Balochistan, seizing government and military buildings and attacking a nearby military base. According to online sources, the perpetrators are Baloch separatists.
“Urgent. Militants have seized control of the city of Mangocher in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. Many militants have also seized control of government buildings and military installations in the area, coinciding with an attack targeting an army camp in the Kalat district.”
3. ISIS Amaq/Nashir Statements
• There were no Amaq/Nashir claims of responsibility for Afghanistan between April 26 and May 2.
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