Afghanistan Content Report

December 7–December 13, 2024

Table of contents

1. ISIS Al-Naba Newsletters Edition 473, Published December 12, 2024
2. Pro-ISIS Online Chatter
3. ISIS Amaq/Nashir Statements
4. Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent Statement Released on December 12, 2024
5. ISIS-K Linked Al-Azaim Poster Released on December 13, 2024

Main points (Pro-ISIS Online Chatter)

Afghanistan

• Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban minister of refugees, was killed in an attack in Kabul.
  • Haqqani was the intended target of the attack.
  • Haqqani “worked to protect the Hazara Shiites and their possessions.”
• Three Taliban soldiers were allegedly killed in an attack in Faryab province. ISIS did not claim the attack.
• Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) may seek to emulate the Taliban and claim to have instituted religious law. ISIS will continue to fight against HTS.
  • The Taliban are hypocrites for advising HTS to institute religious law.
• A guard at an Ismaili temple in Zebak, Badakhshan, was killed.
• Russia’s State Duma approved removing the Taliban from Russia’s list of terrorist entities.

Pakistan

• Unidentified gunmen killed three followers of the Baha’i Faith in Waziristan, Pakistan.

1. ISIS Al-Naba Newsletters Edition 473, Published December 12, 2024

• “Soldiers of the Caliphate overthrow a senior Taliban militia official in the capital of Kabul.”

“This week, the soldiers of the Caliphate in Khorasan Province carried out a qualitative martyrdom operation that overthrew the so-called ‘refugee minister’ of the apostate Taliban militia in the Afghan capital of Kabul. In the details, with the grace of Allah Almighty, the martyrdom brother Abu Uthman al-Khorasani—may Allah Almighty accept him—set off towards the headquarters of the ‘Ministry of Refugees’ controlled by the apostate Taliban militia in Kabul. The martyrdom brother was able to pass through several security barriers until he reached the inside of the building, where he waited for the official. The martyr remained waiting for the target until he left his office with several of his assistants from the administrators and guards, where he was able to reach them and detonate his explosive vest among them. The operation resulted in the killing of the apostate minister along with several other officials and accompanying guards, and praise be to Allah.”

• “The Taliban's ‘refugee minister’ who was killed in a suicide attack in the capital Kabul.”

• “A painful security blow.”

“This operation is a painful security blow to the apostate militia, as the Mujahideen have reached the first leadership rank in the militia, thanks to God Almighty, which reflects the Mujahideen’s ability to achieve these sovereign goals on the one hand and refutes the militia’s repeated lies about eliminating the Mujahideen on the other hand.”

• “A great loss for the militia.”

“For its part, the militia mourned its leader ‘with great sadness and sorrow’ in an official statement and described his death as a ‘great loss for them,’ while several apostate governments mourned him, such as Shiite Iran, Pakistan, the [United Arab] Emirates, Qatar . . . and even the ‘United Nations’! This shows the extent of the ignorant ‘international community’s’ satisfaction with this leader and his government after its involvement in this infidel system.’”

2. Pro-ISIS Online Chatter

• December 7: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that ISIS fighters killed three Taliban soldiers and injured four in an attack in Almar, Faryab province.

“#Afghanistan. A clash between a Taliban force and an element of the terrorist army in the Almar area of ​​Faryab province on Friday, 6/12/2024. It led to the death of three of them and the injury of four, according to the initial toll, and to the martyrdom of the fighter.”

• December 8: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the Taliban has congratulated Abu Muhammad al-Julani and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on overthrowing the Syrian Assad regime. 

“#Taliban congratulates al-Julani on overthrowing the Assad regime.”

• December 9: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that, according to an unnamed Iranian official, the government seeks to cooperate with the new Syrian government. The post compares this to Taliban-Iranian cooperation.

Text: Reuters, quoting an Iranian official: Cooperation with the new Syrian rulers is key to stabilizing relations and avoiding further regional tensions.

“Entertainment. Yes, they [the new Syrian government] will establish and strengthen the best relations with Iran. As [they did with] the Taliban militia in Afghanistan. Then, they accuse the terrorists of working for Iran and the regime. Knowing that Iran and the regime have suffered the most from the terrorists, and Tehran continues to do so.”

• December 9: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that a guard at an Ismaili temple in Zebak, Badakhshan, was killed. The post noted that the beheaded body of an Ismaili individual was recently found.

“Urgent. The body of an Ismaili temple guard was found murdered in the Zebak area of Badakhshan, Afghanistan. It is noteworthy that a few days ago, the body of an Ismaili was found in the same city without a head.”

• December 9: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that there was an unidentified explosion in Herat.

“#Urgent. An explosion was heard in the Afghan city of Herat.”

• December 10: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that Russia’s State Duma approved removing the Taliban from Russia’s list of terrorist entities.

“Entertainment. The Russian Duma officially approves the removal of the name of the Afghan Taliban militia from their terrorist list. Politics and so on.”

• December 10: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that the Taliban are hypocrites for telling HTS leader al-Julani to establish religious law in Syria. The post mocks the Taliban for not instituting religious law and not carrying out what are described as religiously mandated punishments.

“Taliban militia tells al-Julani:

“Establish sharia law in Syria in its entirety.

“They punish those who practice the act of the people of Lot [same-sex relations] with imprisonment.

“And the married adulterer with imprisonment and flogging.

“Even if they establish sharia law.

“Stop the jihad.

“They believe in only some of the book [the Quran].

“And God Almighty says all of it belongs to God and did not say a quarter or half of it or gradually to please people.

“And He is the One who prescribed prayer and fasting.

“And prescribed slaying.

“So where is slaying among you?

“Why do they befriend the infidels?

“Deceptive years.”

• December 10: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that unidentified gunmen killed three followers of the Bahaʼi Faith in Waziristan, Pakistan.”

“Urgent. Armed men stormed a house belonging to followers of the Bahaʼi Faith in the Pakistani city of Waziristan and killed three people who were inside.”

• December 10: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that an unidentified individual was killed in an attack in Herat.

“Urgent. Armed attack targets a person in the Afghan city of Herat, which led to his immediate death.”

• December 11: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that an attack targeted a meeting of Taliban leaders in Kabul, killing the minister of refugees, Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani.

“Urgent. A qualitative explosion in the Afghan capital, Kabul, targeted a meeting of Taliban militia leaders, which led to the killing of a leader and the militia’s minister of refugees, Khalil [al-Rahman] Haqqani.”

• December 11: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram identifying Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani as the target of the attack.

“#Update. The leader Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani, the current minister of refugees and returnees in the Taliban militia, was the target of the explosion, and he was killed.”

• December 11: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that Sirajuddin Haqqani was present at the meeting and might have been an additional target of the attack.

“#Urgent. Local sources: The Taliban’s interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, was present at the explosion site, and he may have been the second target of the operation as well.”

• December 11: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that “general managers” and guards were also killed in the attack.

“#Urgent. Many Taliban militia members, including general managers and guards of the minister, were killed in the explosion.”

• December 11: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram containing a photo of Taliban ministers, taken before Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani returned to his office and was killed.

“#Monitoring. This photo is from this morning when the Taliban militia met with its ministers. Haqqani appears in the photo as he left this meeting and returned to his ministry. Upon his return, the explosion occurred and he was killed.”

• December 11: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the Taliban issued condolences for Haqqani and said that ISIS was responsible. The post noted that ISIS opposes the “instructions of the American Al Udeid [Air] Base.”

“#Update. The Taliban militia issues a statement of condolence for its minister Haqqani and says that the Kharijites [‘those who left,’ an early Muslim sect, the name is sometimes used to refer to ISIS] killed him.

“The Kharijites, you mean, are those who went against the will, orders, and instructions of the American Al Udeid [Air] Base in Qatar.”

• December 11: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming to show a photo of the suicide bomber who killed Haqqani.

“#Update. A circulating photo of the man who killed the Iranians’ beloved Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani.”

• December 11: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram falsely claiming that Haqqani was in charge of security in Kabul when the late al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed. Haqqani was in charge of Kabul security before the drone strike that killed al-Zawahiri. The post also claimed that Haqqani “worked to protect the Hazara Shiites and their possessions” and arrested the families of those fighting against the Shiites in Afghanistan.

“#Monitoring. America accepted Haqqani to maintain the security of the capital, Kabul, and at that time, their beloved Zawahiri was killed in Kabul. He also worked to protect the Hazara Shiites and their processions while they insulted the Companions, and he arrested many women, young men, and elderly people because their families were fighting the Shiites and those who gave in to the Americans, Iranians, and others.”

• December 11: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that unidentified individuals attacked a Taliban checkpoint in Herat.

“#Urgent. A grenade attack targeted a Taliban security checkpoint in the fourth security zone in Herat city.”

• December 11: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that Haqqani had referred to Ahmad Shah Massoud as a “martyr.”

“For your information, this is a whisper in the ear of some on the other side.

“In this video, Khalil Haqqani called Ahmad Shah Massoud ‘the martyr.’

“Note that al-Qaeda killed Ahmad Shah Massoud based on direct orders from Sheikh Osama, who was asked to do so by Mullah Omar.

“Did the whisper reach?”

• December 11: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that Qatar [referred to as Al Udeid Air Base] condemned the killing of Haqqani.

“#Update. Al Udeid Air Base expresses condolences, condemns and denounces the killing of Minister Haqqani in Afghanistan.”

• December 11: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that the killing of Haqqani was “the biggest blow that the Taliban has ever suffered in its history” because it was an attack against “the modern militia” after taking power. The post contrasts this to the death of Mullah Omar, which the post declares “was a relief for them to implement their plans.”

“Did you know: This is the biggest blow that the Taliban militia has ever suffered in its history, even bigger than the death of the mullah, because the death of the mullah was a relief for them to implement their plans, and the death of Khalil [al-Rahman Haqqani] is a blow to the structure of the modern militia, as he was the most important pillar of the militia after surrendering to America and surrendering to its demands. Today is a day of mourning in Afghanistan. The mourning ceremony will be held at the American Al Udeid [Air] Base in Qatar.”

• December 11: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram falsely claiming that Taliban Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Mali Khan Sediq was killed in the attack.

“Urgent. Among those killed in the Kabul attack is the deputy chief of staff of the Taliban militia’s ministry of defense, Mali Khan [Sediq].”

• December 11: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that ISIS has been conducting “qualitative” attacks in Afghanistan and not focusing on the number of attacks.

Text: “In 2023, the Islamic State in Khorasan Province focused mainly on Taliban leaders through multiple assassinations and attempted attacks, and in 2024, we saw a significant decrease in attacks by the Islamic State in Khorasan Province. However, even with the decrease in the number of attacks, the group was able to attack all the main targets that fall under its ideology and propaganda narratives, including foreigners, areas with geographic symbolism such as Kandahar, Sufi movements, the Shiite community, and the Taliban leadership, now. This excludes the repeated major attacks launched in Pakistan, for example, during the elections, and attacks in Russia, Turkey, and Iran, where the Islamic State in Khorasan Province had varying degrees of involvement.”

“Follow-ups. Editor-in-chief of a magazine specializing in Afghan affairs talks about how terrorists in Afghanistan have turned to qualitative work, not quantitative work.”

• December 12: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that an Afghan journalist has alleged that ISIS has infiltrated the ministry of interior affairs.

Text: “Sources indicate that the attacker responsible for the suicide bombing that killed Khalil Haqqani in Kabul was driving to the perimeter of the ministry in the Macroyan One area in a Ranger vehicle belonging to the Taliban’s ministry of interior [affairs].

“Security camera footage obtained by the General Directorate of Intelligence indicates that the attacker got out of the vehicle a few blocks from the ministry. The General Directorate of Intelligence has asked its leadership not to leak the footage on social media.

“If the Islamic State in Khorasan’s claim of responsibility for the attack is true, it would indicate a major infiltration by the group into the Taliban’s ministry of interior. This suggests that the Islamic State in Khorasan used Sirajuddin Haqqani’s assets to assassinate his uncle.”

“#Monitoring. Afghan journalist: Terrorists infiltrated the Taliban militia’s interior ministry.”

• December 12: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the United Nations has condemned the killing of Haqqani.

“#Update. The United Nations condemns the killing of Haqqani in the terrorist bombing in Kabul.”

• December 12: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that the killing of Haqqani has occurred at “an important and sensitive time” to send a message to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria and anyone else that if they establish a government and seek to fight ISIS, they will continue to be targeted. The post notes that even the Taliban, with “its long history of wars,” is suffering losses.

“#Observers. The Kabul attack came at an important and sensitive time, as the news captured the attention of Arab and international media due to the importance of the targeted person. The importance of the attack [was made evident] because it reminds anyone who thinks, ‘even in whispers,’ in other places far from Afghanistan, of establishing himself as the Taliban established himself and promised the Americans to eliminate terrorism, that what is happening to the Taliban since taking power from NATO will not be different from what will happen to those who promised the United States of America what the Taliban promised: that they would be soldiers for the American administration fighting on its behalf against terrorism.

“We do not believe that there is a sane person who does not know who the Taliban is and its long history of wars, and here it is in front of everyone, bleeding leaders, soldiers, and reputation, and it has reached rock bottom on all levels since it told the officers of the Al Udeid [Air] Base in Qatar that we are for it [sic], so they were the fuel for this failed battle, and they were the ones who ignited its fire with their own hands.”

• December 12: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram containing more information on how the explosive device that killed Haqqani snuck past security in Kabul. 

“Update. Afghan media: The Kabul attacker was carrying an explosive device wrapped around his hand to fool the guards into thinking he had a fracture to pass the detection device at the entrance to the ministry building so that when the detection device beeped, the guards would see that the reason for this was the metal attached to the attacker’s hand as a result of his injury. The attacker smiled when he learned that his trick had fooled the guards and that he had passed [through] the detection device, as is clear in the picture as if he had crossed to win a prize.”

• December 13: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that despite the Taliban’s claim to have destroyed ISIS-K, the group still poses a serious threat to the Taliban. The post notes that Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada did not travel to Haqqani’s funeral “due to security concerns.”

“Entertainment. After repeatedly claiming to eliminate terrorists and secure Afghanistan completely. Taliban militia spokesman: The militia’s supreme leader, Akhundzada, did not attend the funeral of Minister Haqqani due to security concerns.

“It is noteworthy that the funeral ceremony of Taliban militia minister Khalil Haqqani took place in the province of Paktia amid tight security measures and heavy gunfire [it is unclear what ‘heavy gunfire’ refers to here].”

• December 13: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has said that ISIS is a significant threat to Afghanistan and regional states.

Text: “Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani stressed that ISIS is a serious threat to the stability of Afghanistan and the region.

“According to Iranian media, [former foreign minister Mohammad Javad] Zarif said, referring to the recent explosion in the ministry of refugees and repatriation in Afghanistan, that no one, including the leaders of the interim government in Afghanistan, is safe from the threat of terrorism.”

“Follow-ups. Iran complains to the United Nations about terrorists and says even Taliban ministers are no longer safe.”

• December 13: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that according to Indian media, Akhundzada is “trying to oust Sirajuddin Haqqani.”

“#Persian. News in Indian media: Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Islamic Emirate, is trying to oust Sirajuddin Haqqani.”

• December 13: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the United Nations secretary-general has released a report that shows an increase of almost 40% in security incidents in Afghanistan between August 1 and October 31, 2024, compared to 2023.

“#Persian. Security-related incidents in Afghanistan have increased by more than 39 percent!

“Antonio Guterres, in his new report on Afghanistan, the UN secretary-general has announced a 39.6 percent increase in security-related incidents and 81 attacks by Taliban opponents.

“Guterres’ new report, presented last night, Thursday, December 12, at the UN Security Council meeting, states that 2,510 security-related incidents were recorded in Afghanistan from August 1 to October 31, 2024.

“According to the report, the recording of this number of incidents represents a 39.6 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023.”

• December 13: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that 12 professors from Kunar University were dismissed from their positions after being accused of being Salafis. The post claims that eight were from the sharia faculty, two from the education department, and two from the agriculture department.

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

“#Pashto. Local sources in Kunar report that the Taliban have dismissed 12 professors from the faculties of sharia, agriculture, and education at Kunar University for being Salafi.

“A reliable source, who did not want to be identified, said today, Friday, December 13, that among these professors, eight are from the sharia faculty, two from the education faculty, and two from the agriculture faculty.”

• December 13: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the National Assembly of Pakistan declared that “924 people have been killed in 1,566 terrorist incidents in the country in the past ten months.” Of those killed, 573 (62 percent) were from the security forces.

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

“#Pashto. The National Assembly of Pakistan announced that at least 924 people have been killed in 1,566 terrorist incidents in the country in the past ten months. According to the National Assembly, 573 people were members of the security forces, which accounts for 62 percent of the total casualties.”

3. ISIS Amaq/Nashir Statements

• December 11: ISIS claims to have killed Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban’s minister of refugees and repatriation, in a suicide attack in Kabul. The claim noted that the bomber had “successfully passed the security barriers” inside the ministry’s headquarters and waited until he could kill Haqqani.

“Assassination of a senior Taliban militia official and a number of his assistants in a suicide attack in the capital of Kabul.

“Afghanistan - Kabul - Amaq Agency: A senior Taliban militia official and a number of his aides were killed in a suicide attack by the Islamic State in Afghanistan. Security sources told Amaq Agency that a suicide bomber arrived at the headquarters of the so-called Ministry of Refugees run by the Taliban in the capital, Kabul, and successfully passed the security barriers inside the headquarters. The sources added that the fighter waited for the moment when the senior official, Khalil [al-Rahman] Haqqani, left his office, accompanied by several of his assistants and guards. The sources confirmed that the fighter, upon seeing the target, detonated his explosive vest, which resulted in the death of the official in addition to a number of his guards and administrative assistants. Islamic State fighters have repeatedly succeeded in striking senior administrative and security officials in the leadership structure of the Taliban militia, which took power under a peace agreement with America.”

• December 11: ISIS Nashir claim taking credit for killing Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani.

“A senior administrative official in the apostate Taliban militia was killed along with a number of his companions in a martyrdom operation in Kabul.

“By the grace of Allah Almighty, one of the knights of martyrdom, brother Abu Uthman al-Khorasani—may Allah Almighty accept him—set out towards one of the sovereign headquarters of the apostate Taliban militia in Kabul, where he detonated his explosive vest on the so-called minister of refugees in the militia, which led to his death along with a number of his other guards and assistants, praise be to Allah.”

4. Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent Statement Released on December 12, 2024

Summary:

• The message offers condolences to supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada for the killing of Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani.
• The message stated that ISIS killed Haqqani and referred to the group as deviant and evil.
  • ISIS is described as celebrating the killing of Muslims and preferring to kill Muslims rather than Israelis and Westerners.
• The message praises Afghanistan as a proper Islamic Emirate that follows religious law.

5. ISIS-K Linked Al-Azaim Poster Released on December 13, 2024

The poster celebrates the killing of Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani.