Afghanistan Content Report

July 27 – July 31, 2024

Please note all items in this issue concern ISIS-K

Table of contents

1. ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 454, Published August 1, 2024
2. Pro-ISIS Online Chatter
3. ISIS Amaq Statements

Main points (Pro-ISIS online chatter)

• Pakistani Shiites have been fighting with Sunnis in Parachinar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
  • Posts have stated that the Shiites in this region are part of a militia that has fought in Iraq and Syria. 
  • Posts have stated that a large number of Shiites have been killed in the fighting. 
• The Taliban protects Shiites in Afghanistan.
• Unidentified gunmen attacked United Nations personnel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• Taliban members are accused of drug use and sales.

1. ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 454, Published August 1, 2024

• “Two Taliban militia killed and 14 wounded in an attack by the caliphate soldiers in the Afghan capital of Kabul.”

“This week, the soldiers of the caliphate in Khorasan Province killed two members of the apostate Taliban militia and wounded 14 others in an attack targeting their bus in the capital of Kabul. In the details, with the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the caliphate attacked a bus carrying members of the apostate Taliban militia in District Five in the city of Kabul with machine guns, which led to the death of at least two members, wounding 14 others, and damaging the bus. A special source told al-Naba that the caliphate soldiers fired 60 bullets at the bus from a close range. The source added that the bus was carrying more than 25 members of the militia’s so-called ‘Interior Ministry,’ indicating that it was targeted after several days of monitoring and follow-up. Al-Naba obtained an exclusive photo of the bus that the mujahideen targeted.”

• “Media Blackout”

“The same source also told al-Naba that the apostate militia had set up a security cordon around the place to prevent filming the dead and wounded while imposing a strict media blackout on the attack and did not allow anyone to approach the place until several hours later.”

• “The bus carrying Taliban militia members that was targeted by the Mujahideen in Kabul was spotted.”

2. Pro-ISIS Online Chatter

• July 27: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that a Taliban commander was killed in an attack from the National Resistance Front. Please note that while found on a pro-ISIS Telegram channel, non-ISIS media have posted this nearly identical message. 

[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.]

“Last night, the forces of the National Resistance Front attacked Khost province, Baghlan province, and launched an operation to kill the terrorists, resulting in the death of the leader of the Taliban terrorist group, Qari Mukhtar, and the injuring of two of his associates. The forces of the National Front were not harmed in these operations.”

• July 27: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram regarding violence in Parachinar, Pakistan, stating that Shiites are under attack from the Afghan Taliban, as well as Sunnis from several Pakistani villages. The post claims that ten members of the Afghan Taliban have been killed.

[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 siege of Parachinar has been going on for several days, and Shiite villages are being attacked from all sides. Terrorists from Khoruti, Chamkani, Mangal, Afghan Taliban, Muqbal, Khar village, and Sada are included in these operations, which have besieged them. Five youths and two children died in the attack. At the same time, more than ten Taliban gathered from Afghanistan and other parts of the country have been killed. Internet service has also been stopped in Parachinar and the entire district.”

• July 27: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram alleging that Pakistani Shiites serving in the Zainebiyoun Brigade in Syria are killing Sunnis.

[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 Shiite Zainebiyoun is fighting against Muslims in Iraq and Syria.”

• July 27: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that unidentified gunmen attacked protesters in Tank, Pakhtunkhwa. The photo appears to be from a different incident involving the kidnapping of the owner of a medical supply store.

[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.]

“In the area of ​​Tank in Pakhtunkhwa, gunmen opened fire at demonstrators.”

• July 27: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that Pakistani Frontier Corps soldiers “shot and tortured … Baloch women in Mastung.”

[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 forces shot and tortured separatist Baloch women in Mastung area of ​​Balochistan.”

• July 27: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that gunmen killed a Pakistani police officer in the Counter-Terrorism Department in Mardan.

[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.]

“An officer of the Counter-Terrorism Department was sent to another world by gunmen in the Mardan district of Pakhtunkhwa.”

• July 27: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that “Sunni militants” captured seven Shiites and killed four during clashes in Kurram.

[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.]

“In the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan, seven Shiites were captured alive by the Sunni militants in Kurram near Boshehra, and the bodies of four Shiites were blown up.”

• July 28: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming to show the bodies of Shiites killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

[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.]

“These are the bodies of the Shiites. It is said that the number of killed, injured, and imprisoned is very high in the conflict on the land between the Sunnis and the Shiites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa #Kurram #Boshehra Parachinar.”

• July 28: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that Afghan Shiites “expressed their appreciation” for Taliban security during the month of Muharram, including Ashura observances.

[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.]

“Shiites expressed their appreciation for the security provided by the Taliban militia during the month of Muharram.”

• July 28: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid noted that Hibatullah Akhundzada met with the governor of Ghor province and “ordered them to end their differences.”

[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.]

“Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says that the governor and officials of Ghor province met with and saw the commander, ‘Hibat al-America,’ and the commander ordered them to end their differences.”

• July 28: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that 135 Shiites were killed and over 400 were injured in Parachinar.

[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 real media may say that more than 135 Shiites died and more than 400 were injured in Kurram, Parachinar.”

• July 28: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that 13 Pakistani soldiers were killed and seven were wounded in the city of Tank by unidentified militants. 

[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.]

“Thirteen Pakistani soldiers were killed and seven were injured in the Tank area of​​ Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by militants.”

• July 29: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that Sunnis in Parachinar have blocked Shiites from leaving or entering the area.

[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 Sunni Muslims in Parachinar and the surrounding areas have closed the roads to the Shiites.

“It should not be forgotten that the Sunni-Shia war is still going on in Parachinar.”

• July 29: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser noted in an interview that Germany was considering deporting “criminal” asylum seekers to Syria or Afghanistan.

[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 interior minister of Germany, Nancy Faeser, who is a member of the Social Democratic Party, has announced that the country will return #Syrian and #Afghan criminals to their countries.”

• July 30: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that an “unknown gunman” attacked a vehicle being used by employees from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The post noted that the Pakistani Taliban denied responsibility and that the UN office in the area was being evacuated.

[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.]

“In the Tank area of ​​Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, unknown gunmen opened fire on the car of United Nations employees, who fled without being hurt. A team from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) was sent to the capital building after the incident, and the Taliban denied responsibility for the incident.”

• July 30: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that “Taliban Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Kabir visited Iran.”

[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.]

“Taliban Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Kabir visited Iran.”

• July 30: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that Sirajuddin Haqqani met with China’s ambassador to Afghanistan, who thanked the Taliban for “protecting their people.”

[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.]

“Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani met with the Chinese ambassador. The Chinese have thanked the Taliban for protecting their people in Afghanistan.”

• July 30: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that a meeting to discuss Islamic banking in Afghanistan, led by UN Special Representative Roza Otunbayeva, had concluded at the Serena Hotel in Kabul.

[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 meeting of the new Islamic banking system for Taliban militias, under the leadership of the United Nations special representative Roza Otunbayeva, ended at the Serena Hotel in Kabul.”

• July 30: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that “unknown persons” killed a Pakistani police officer in Khyber District.

[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.]

“#Sub-Inspector Alamzeb was killed in Landi Kotal near Peshawar, Khyber District by unknown persons.”

• July 30: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan attacked the Taliban in Kabul and Badghis provinces.

[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.]

“Afghan National Resistance Front forces attacked the Taliban in #Badghis and #Kabul provinces.”

• July 30: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that Shiites in Parachinar are training there to join militias to fight in Iraq and Syria against Sunni Muslims. 

[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.]

“#Parachinar is a safe hideout for terrorist Shiites #Zainebiyoun. It should be noted that these Zainebiyoun are trained in Parachinar for Iraq and Syria, and then they are sent to Iraq and Syria via Iran to kill Muslims, where Muslims also kill them. See some of the dead bodies of #Zainebiyoun of #Parachinar here!”

• July 30: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the violence between Sunnis and Shiites in the Parachinar area is due to land disputes. The post claims that former members of the Shiite Zainebiyoun militias were involved and that 43 people were killed and 170 were injured. 

“#Follow-ups. Due to disputes over a piece of land, violent tribal clashes have been ongoing for six days between the Sunnis of Pakistan and the Rafidis [a derogatory name for Shiites] of Pakistan, the Sahwat [Sunni tribal forces in Iraq] brothers, where former members and leaders of the Zainebiyoun militia, which participated in shedding the blood of the Sunnis in Iraq and Syria, participated in the clashes.

“The Pakistani army’s attempt to intervene and side with the Rafidis against the Muslims was also recorded.

“The clashes resulted in the killing of 43 people and the injury of 170 others.

“These are the Rafidis of Pakistan for whom the Sahwat described the state of monotheism as extremist and foreign when it was shedding their blood and striking their dens and Husseiniyas.”

• July 30: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that Sunnis in Parachinar have been reacting to increased attacks from Shiites, which is why they “respond[ed] forcefully.” The post claimed that the commander of the Zainebiyoun militia was killed during clashes.

“#Follow-ups. Nearly 50 Rafidis were killed, and 130 others were injured, in the Parachinar area of ​​Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northwest Pakistan. Among the dead was the leader of the Zainebiyoun militia, known as ‘Ashraf Hussein.’

“The Sunni villages in Parachinar have been witnessing attacks by the Rafidis, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Zainebiyoun militias for a long time, and they have been renewed in the recent period, which forced the Sunni tribes to repel the attacks and respond forcefully to the Rafidis and their areas.”

• July 31: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that a car bomb detonated near a tribal leader’s car in North Waziristan.

[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.]

“A car bomb exploded near a tribal leader’s car in #Mir Ali district of #Shawah area in #North Waziristan.”

• July 31: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that two Taliban members were killed and 14 were injured in an armed assault on their bus in Kabul. The post claims the attack has “not yet been published in any reliable media.” ISIS later took credit for the attack. 

[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.]

“Two Taliban militia members were killed and 14 others wounded in a gun attack on a bus in the capital Kabul’s fifth district. The bus was also damaged. But this news has not yet been published in any reliable media.”

• July 31: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that the Taliban do not allow information about attacks against them to be public. 

[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.]

“As you know, the Taliban do not allow the attacks on the Taliban to be published.

 “And if anyone did it, then he would be imprisoned or even killed.

“So today’s attack in Kabul is official and confirmed, God willing.”

• July 31: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that unidentified gunmen stole more than 30 million rupees from a car belonging to a bank.

[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.]

“In the area of Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, unknown armed robbers stole more than 30 million rupees from a bank car.”

• July 31: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that a man was shot to death and then thrown into the Kunar River. The post noted that the Taliban have killed “thousands” in Kunar and Nangarhar.

[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.]

“This young man was first shot and then thrown into the Kunar River in #Kunar. It should not be forgotten that thousands of Muslims in #Kunar and #Nangarhar areas have faced the same treatment by Taliban militias.”

• July 31: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that “four thieves” were arrested in Balkh. 

[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.]

“#Balkh. Four thieves were arrested in the fifth district of #Balkh city.”

• July 31: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that Taliban militia members openly smoke and trade hashish.

[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.]

“Taliban militias openly smoke hashish and trade hashish freely.”

3. ISIS Amaq Statements

• July 31: ISIS claims to have killed two Taliban members and wounded 14 others in an armed attack on a bus in Kabul.

“At least two Taliban militia members were killed, and 14 others were injured, in an attack by the soldiers of the caliphate in the Afghan capital of Kabul. 

“Khorasan Province. By the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the caliphate attacked a bus of the apostate Taliban militia in District Five of Kabul with machine guns, which led to the killing of at least two Taliban members and the injury of 14 others and damage to the bus, praise be to God, and thanks be to Him.”