Afghanistan Content Report

August 17–23, 2024

Please note all items in this issue concern ISIS-K

Table of contents

1. ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 457, Published August 22, 2024
2. Pro-ISIS Online Chatter
3. ISIS Nashir/Amaq Statements
4. ISIS-K Linked Al-Azaim Web Magazine Voice of Khorasan Issue 38, Released on August 18, 2024 

Main points (Pro-ISIS online chatter)

• A Taliban vehicle was attacked on August 22 in Nangarhar, killing and wounding several. 
• Explosions occurred in Kabul which were reported on August 17 and August 22.
• Shiites were killed by unknown individuals in Herat and Ghor. 
• The United Arab Emirates officially recognized the Taliban ambassador.
• An accused spy for the Pakistani government was killed in Bajaur on August 17.
• The Taliban falsely claimed that ISIS-K has been defeated.
• Unconfirmed reports of the assassination of a Taliban leader on August 17.
• Allegations of fighting between Taliban factions in Baghlan on August 22.

1. ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 457, Published August 22, 2024

• “Targeting a spy and a member of Pakistani intelligence in two attacks by the caliphate soldiers in Khorasan Province.”

“This week, the soldiers of the caliphate assassinated a spy for the apostate Pakistani government in the Bajaur border region, and they also targeted a member of Pakistani intelligence in two separate operations in Khorasan province. In the details, with the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the caliphate targeted on Sunday (14 Safar) a spy of the apostate Pakistani intelligence in the Sadiq Abad area in Bajaur with pistol shots, which led to his death. A special source told al-Naba that the slain spy caused the capture of Muslims and was active in tracking down the Mujahideen supporters and informing the apostate Pakistani forces about them. He was also involved in firing on a Mujahideen detachment earlier. In the same context, the soldiers of the caliphate targeted on Wednesday (17 Safar) an element of the apostate Pakistani intelligence in the village of Qambar Khel in the Khyber area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with pistol shots, which led to his injury, praise and thanks be to God.”

• “Last Week.”

“Last week, the soldiers of the caliphate in Khorasan Province carried out a suicide bombing targeting a bus of apostate Shiites in the Afghan capital of Kabul, which resulted in the death of a Shiite, the wounding of 13 others with varying degrees of injury, and the destruction of the bus they were riding in.”

2. Pro-ISIS Online Chatter

• August 17: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram listing Pakistani Shiites who were killed fighting with the Zainebiyoun Brigade in Syria.

[Please note that the message below is nearly identical in both Pashto and Arabic. Only one translation is provided, rather than the double translation in both languages.]

“Pakistani Zainebiyoun Shiites who have died in anti-Muslim wars in the blessed land of Syria.”

• August 17: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that there was an explosion in the Karte Parwan area of Kabul. 

“#Urgent. An explosion rocks the [Karte] Parwan area in the Afghan capital, Kabul.”

• August 17: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that “unreliable” sources in Afghanistan have spoken about the assassination of a senior Taliban leader. It is unclear who this is referring to or if it is based in fact. 

“#Update. ‘Unreliable’ Afghan sources talk about the assassination of a senior leader in the Taliban militia.”

• August 18: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that an alleged Pakistani spy was killed in Sadiq Abad, Bajaur District. ISIS took credit for the murder the same day.

“In Bajaur, Pakistan’s security forces were sent to spy on Sadiq Abad.

“#Pakistan. #Terror targeted a Pakistani intelligence spy in the area of ​Sadiq Abad in Bajaur with pistol shots, which resulted in his death.”

• August 18: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram, including additional information on the individual killed by ISIS-K in Bajaur.

“#Urgent. An armed attack targeted a member of the Pakistani government’s Tablighi Jamaat, ‘Sher Zameen,’ inside his car in the Bajaur area of ​​Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which led to his death.”

• August 18: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that a man was killed by unknown individuals in Tank, Bajaur. The individual is identified as belonging to Imran Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf / Pakistan Movement for Justice.

“#Follow-ups. The death of the member of the Pakistan Movement for Justice, ‘Muhammad Farooq,’ in an armed attack targeting him in the ‘Tank’ area in Bajaur.”

• August 21: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that Taliban Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Hafiz Zia Ahmad claimed that ISIS-K had been defeated in Afghanistan and that the group could be "completely eliminated" if Pakistan destroyed it in their own country.

“Hafiz Zia Ahmad, deputy spokesman for the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, said that the Taliban government has defeated ISIS in Afghanistan, and if Pakistan succeeds in suppressing it, this threat will be completely eliminated.”

• August 21: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that two farmers were killed by unknown individuals in the Chaparhar district of Nangarhar province while gathering water. 

“Two people were gathering water in their fields in Chaparhar district of Nangarhar province when unknown gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire on them and killed the farmers on the spot. According to the source, the deceased had no personal problems with anyone.”

• August 21: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the former police chief of Sheikhal district in Paktika province was murdered. Aamaj News reported that Abdul Rahman Delawar, who was a police chief in the former government, was killed by the Taliban. See https://x.com/aamajnews_EN/status/1826183616671437117. 

[Please note that the message below is nearly identical in both Pashto and Arabic. Only one translation is provided, rather than the double translation in both languages.]

“Armed men attacked the house of the former police chief of Sheikhabad district in Sharana, the center of Paktika, and shot him dead.”

• August 21: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that a Taliban member who was the “financial officer” for the district police was killed in Yamgan, Badakhshan, by unidentified individuals.

[Please note that the message below is nearly identical in both Pashto and Arabic. Only one translation is provided, rather than the double translation in both languages.]

“Local sources in Badakhshan province say that an armed member of the Taliban was killed by unknown people in Yamgan district. The source added that the name of this Taliban member was Faizul Haq, and that he worked as the financial officer of Yamgan District Police Headquarters. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.”

• August 21: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that unknown individuals in Janikhel, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, murdered Doctor Noor Muhammad. 

[Please note that the message below is nearly identical in both Pashto and Arabic. Only one translation is provided, rather than the double translation in both languages.]

“Unknown gunmen assassinated Doctor Noor Muhammad in Janikhel district of Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the headless body of a Taliban soldier was located in Kandahar.

[Please note that the message below is nearly identical in both Pashto and Arabic. Only one translation is provided, rather than the double translation in both languages.]

“The headless body of a Taliban soldier was found in the province of Kandahar, Afghanistan.”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that armed men attacked the home of a Shiite man in Herat and beheaded him.

[Please note that the message below is nearly identical in both Pashto and Arabic. Only one translation is provided, rather than the double translation in both languages.]

“The headless body of a Shiite man was found in the garden of his house in Herat, Afghanistan, after armed men attacked his house in the morning.”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram naming the murdered Shiite man in Herat as Ghulam Sadiq and claimed that he worked at a Shiite commemoration hall. 

“More details. Herat. Unknown persons killed a Shiite citizen named Ghulam Sadiq in his home in Herat city. The victim was a servant of one of the Shiite Hussainiyas.”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram noting that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has accepted the credentials of the Taliban’s ambassador. The UAE is the second country (after China) to officially recognize the Taliban ambassador. 

“#Follow-ups. The UAE government, which has normalized relations with the Jews publicly, announced the acceptance of the Taliban militia’s diplomatic mission and opened an official embassy for it in Abu Dhabi.

“Khamara [tavern] and so on [sic].”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram noting an attack allegedly on a “Taliban militia headquarters” in Baghlan. 

“#Urgent. An attack took place inside a Taliban militia headquarters in the Banawi Andarab area of ​​Baghlan city.”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that the attack injured a Taliban leader in Baghlan. This is unconfirmed.

“#Urgent. The attack also resulted in the injury of the Taliban militia governor in Baghlan.”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that a Taliban “security zone commander” and two other Taliban officials were killed, and the Baghlan governor was injured, in an attack. This is unconfirmed.

“#Urgent. The toll so far:

“Death of a security zone commander. Death of two of his companions. Injury of the Taliban militia governor in Baghlan.”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that the attack in Baghlan was done by “a gunman disguised as a Taliban militia member.” This is unconfirmed, and the post notes this is from “Unreliable Afghan sources.”

“#Update. Unreliable Afghan sources: The attack was carried out by a gunman disguised as a Taliban militia member.”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that the Baghlan attack is “a civil war between Taliban” factions in the Banvi district.

“In Baglan, Afghanistan, several members of the Taliban, including the police commander of this region, Naqibullah Gujar, and two of his bodyguards, were killed in an armed attack on a security military center of the Taliban. And the Taliban governor was injured in Baghlan. Local sources report a civil war between Taliban elements in Baghlan’s Banvi district.”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that a bus carrying Taliban members was attacked with explosives. 

“#Urgent. The explosion targeted a bus carrying Taliban militia members.”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the explosion occurred in Nangarhar. ISIS took credit for this attack the same day.

“#Urgent. The explosion occurred in the Dara Noor area of ​​Nangarhar city.”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that six people were killed and seven were injured in the attack.

“#Update. Six dead, seven injured in new Nangarhar explosion toll.” 

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that the vehicle attacked belongs to the police chief of Nuristan province.

“Urgent. The explosion targeted the bus of the Taliban militia’s Nuristan police chief, Muhammad Yusuf Jamalzai.”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that there were two explosions on Thursday night in the Khair Khāna neighborhood of Kabul. 

“Sources in Kabul said they heard the first explosion at 7:25 p.m. and the second at 7:40 p.m. Thursday. The source adds that the explosion was heard in the Khair Khāna area of ​​the 11th security area in Kabul. But the exact location of the explosions is not clear.”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that 11 police officers were killed and at least seven were injured in an attack on two police vehicles in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan. 

“The attack on two police vehicles on the highway in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan, which resulted in the death of 11 policemen and the injury of the last seven.”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram that includes a video clip of the damaged Taliban vehicle in Nangarhar. 

“A video clip showing the vehicle targeted by terrorists, killing four Taliban militia members and wounding four others in Nangarhar.”

• August 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that the Taliban are lying about the attack on a vehicle in Nangarhar, stating that the explosive device was old and not an ISIS-K attack.

“A spokesman for the Nangarhar militia said that six Taliban teachers and religious students were killed and four others were wounded in the explosion. He also said that the device was old and not recently planted.”

• August 23: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that there is local support for ISIS-K in Nangarhar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

[Text summary: ISIS attacks have increased, including roadside mine attacks in the region. Attacks with roadside mines imply local support. This indicates that ISIS controls some parts of eastern Afghanistan and some parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.]

“#Follow-ups. Security expert, speaking about yesterday’s attack in Nangarhar: There is local ‘incubator’ support for terrorists in Afghanistan.

“Expert: Terrorists control areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan”

• August 23: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that 12 police officers were killed and six were wounded in a “rocket attack” on police vehicles in Punjab province that were “stuck in the rain.”

“#Urgent. 12 policemen killed, six others injured in a rocket attack on two police vehicles in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

“Police officials to media: The deadly attack took place late Friday morning in the Machka area of ​​Rahim Yar Khan district.

“Police officials: The rocket attack came as more than 20 police patrol vehicles were stuck in the rain.”

• August 23: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that unidentified armed men kidnapped an Afghan Shiite man in Ghor and murdered him. The post noted that the man “recently returned from Iran to visit his family” and was a student at a Shiraz religious school.

“#Urgent. The body of an Afghan Shiite was found murdered in the Afghan city of Ghor.

“The Shiite recently returned from Iran to visit his family. He is a student at an Iranian Shiite religious school in the city of Shiraz.

“Armed men raided the element’s house and took him to an unknown location, and he was found murdered this morning.”

• August 23: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the Nuristan police commander had previously said that ISIS-K had been defeated in the province. 

“#Entertainment. The last media interview of the Taliban militia police commander in Nuristan said that the militia was able to completely secure Nuristan and that the terrorists in the province were eliminated. :)”

3. ISIS Nashir/Amaq Statements

• August 18: ISIS claims to have killed an alleged Pakistani spy in Sadiq Abad, Bajaur Agency, Pakistan.

“By the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the caliphate targeted a spy of the apostate Pakistani intelligence in the Sadiq Abad area in Bajaur with pistol shots, which led to his death, praise be to God.”

• August 21: ISIS claims to have injured an alleged Pakistani intelligence operative in a shooting in Qambar Khel, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“By the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the caliphate targeted an element of the apostate Pakistani intelligence in the village of Qambar Khel in the Khyber region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with pistol shots, wounding him, praise be to God.”

• August 22: ISIS claims to have killed four Taliban soldiers and wounded an additional four in an attack in Nangarhar using an explosive device to destroy a vehicle. 

“Eight Taliban militia members killed and injured in a bombing by the caliphate soldiers in Nangarhar, Afghanistan.

“Khorasan Province. By the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the caliphate detonated an explosive device on a vehicle of the apostate Taliban militia in the Dara-e-Noor area in Nangarhar, which resulted in its destruction and the killing of four members and the wounding of four others, praise be to God.”

4. ISIS-K Linked Al-Azaim Web Magazine Voice of Khorasan Issue 38, Released on August 18, 2024 

Summary: 

On August 18, the ISIS-K linked al-Azaim Media propaganda group released issue 38 of the English language web magazine Voice of Khorasan. The main article condemned Shiites and encouraged attacks on them and Shiite sites. The piece also stated that ISIS’s so-called caliph, Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, specifically ordered the January 3, 2024, attack in Kerman, Iran, where ISIS-K killed over 90 people and injured more than 280. The same article condemned the Taliban for supporting and protecting Shiites in Afghanistan. An infographic elsewhere in the web magazine stated that during the recent celebration of Ashura, Afghan Shiites thanked the Taliban for protecting them from ISIS-K attacks. 

Other articles in issue 38 stated that the source of ISIS’s power was following the true religious path and accused the Taliban of violating religious law by taxing drug traffickers. An article that advocated fighting against the government of Saudi Arabia urged the reader to travel to Afghanistan to join ISIS-K, stating that they hope to eventually “send groups of mujahideen to the world.”

As with previous issues, the web magazine included a wallet for sending the privacy cryptocurrency Monero.