Afghanistan Content Report

October 19–25, 2024

Please note all items in this issue concern ISIS-K

Table of contents

1. ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 466, Published October 24, 2024
2. Pro-ISIS Online Chatter
3. ISIS Amaq/Nashir Statements
4. ISIS-K Linked Al-Azaim Web Magazine Voice of Khorasan Issue 40, Released on October 21, 2024 

Main points (Pro-ISIS online chatter)

• The Taliban wants good relations with Iran and India.
• Seven Taliban soldiers were arrested in Takhar and accused of secretly cooperating with ISIS-K.
• Unidentified explosions in Herat, Kabul, and Maymana.
• Seven Taliban soldiers, including an intelligence commander, were allegedly killed in Nurkoh, Ghor province.
  • The Taliban claimed this operation was being conducted after the killing of Shiites in the area in September.
• Unidentified gunmen killed the Bagrami district police chief and his bodyguard on the outskirts of Kabul.
• Two Taliban soldiers were killed in Nangarhar.
• Detainees who were charged with terrorism offenses escaped from prison transport vehicles after an attack near Islamabad, Pakistan.
• Unidentified attackers murdered the Taliban leader Mullah Aziz Gul in Khost.
• Unidentified gunmen killed a member of the Jamiat Ulema Islam party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

1. ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 466, Published October 24, 2024

• “A Taliban militia leader was killed and four others were injured in clashes with Caliphate soldiers in Ghor, central Afghanistan.”

“A special source told al-Naba’ that the soldiers of the Caliphate in the province of Khas [sic] Khorasan killed a leader in the apostate Taliban militia and wounded other members in clashes that took place this week in the Ghor region in central Afghanistan. In the details, with the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the Caliphate clashed on Sunday (17 Rabi’ al-Akhir) with forces from the apostate Taliban militia, who tried to advance towards a Mujahideen site in the Nurkoh region in Ghor, with machine guns, which resulted in the killing of a leader and the wounding of four others. Local media published pictures of the leader who fell in the clashes. The source also told al-Naba’ that the clashes that two Mujahideen fought were against large enemy forces, and the two Mujahideen held out for several hours until they fought an advancing, not retreating, fight—may God Almighty accept them.”

• “The Taliban militia leader who the Mujahideen killed in clashes in the Nurkoh area.”

• “The Taliban worships the ‘international community!’”

“For his part, the militia spokesman claimed in a statement that their forces launched the attack against the Mujahideen who targeted ‘Shiite civilians,’ as he put it, referring to the attack in which the Mujahideen killed 15 Rafidis and wounded others last month. With such statements, the Taliban militia seeks to create an image in the ignorant ‘international community’ that it is more capable of fighting the Mujahideen and protecting the infidel ‘minorities’ in Afghanistan—such as the Rafidis, Hindus, Sikhs, and others—[in order for the international community] to accept [the Taliban] as a partner in the infidel international system.”

2. Pro-ISIS Online Chatter

• October 19: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram criticizing the Taliban, specifically Chief Justice of Afghanistan Abdul Hakim Haqqani, for offering condolences following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The post mockingly states that the Taliban will not send troops to attack Israel because Taliban leaders are “graduates of the American Al Udeid [Air] Base in Qatar” and have submitted to the U.S.

“#Rasd. The judge of the criminals in the Taliban militia offers his condolences for the death of Sinwar, and here we wonder why the Taliban militia does not support Hamas and send forces via Iran and Iraq to Lebanon and Syria to attack the Jews, as long as they have good relations with everyone?

“Oh, I forgot, these [are] graduates of the American Al-Udeid base in Qatar. And they pledged to the Americans to withdraw within the borders. And to submit to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Yes, yes, complete your statement.”

• October 20: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram regarding the arrest of seven Taliban soldiers in Takhar, all related to Nooruddin Amir, an Uzbek commander and deputy governor in Sar-e-Pul. The seven men are accused of cooperating with ISIS. The post claims that this was an “infiltration” of the Taliban and proof of internal instability.

Text: “Sources confirmed to the newspaper Ahad [sic] that the Taliban movement arrested seven Taliban intelligence soldiers in Takhar on charges of cooperating with ISIS in the Do Rahi area in Baharak district about a week ago. According to the sources, those arrested are related to Mawlawi Nooruddin Amir, the Uzbek commander and deputy governor of the Taliban in Sar-e-Pul province. According to the sources, among the arrested Taliban members are two brothers and five of their sons who were serving in various military units of this group in Takhar. Local Taliban officials in Takhar have not said anything about this matter so far. The infiltration of ISIS fighters into the ranks of the Taliban movement is one of the main concerns of this group.”

“#Follow-ups. This news confirms several things, including:

“First: The terrorists were able to infiltrate the militia security-wise.

“Second: The success in exposing the doctrine and methodology of the deviant militia.

“Third: The internal instability and the state of doubt among the militia elements confirm that it is being subjected to severe terrorist strikes on all levels (militarily, security-wise, and methodologically).”

• October 20: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that there was an unidentified explosion in Herat.

“#Urgent. An explosion rocks the Afghan city of Herat.”

• October 20: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that missiles hit Kabul International Airport. While the post does not make claims regarding the attacker, it states that ISIS has previously attacked the airport with “missiles or [explosive] belts.”

“#Urgent. A video clip of the moment the missiles hit Kabul International Airport. It is noteworthy that the terrorists have previously targeted the airport in recent years with qualitative operations, whether with missiles or [explosive] belts.”

• October 20: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that if ISIS committed the airport attack, it would be a significant development, calling it “a wonderful slap in the face of the American Taliban regime.” The Afghanistan Freedom Front claimed the attack.

“If the terrorists adopted the work, this means a terrible development in the work inside Afghanistan. The Taliban militia is now facing a military escalation, not to mention the security. They struck the airport with a severe and painful blow and a wonderful slap in the face of the American Taliban regime. We are waiting and seeing.”

• October 20: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that ISIS killed seven Taliban soldiers in the Nurkoh area in Ghor.

“#Urgent. Local sources: A Taliban militia force tried to approach the terrorists’ positions in the Nurkoh area in Ghor. This led to a clash that has so far resulted in the death and injury of seven Taliban militia members and their escape from the area.”

• October 20: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the Taliban operation against ISIS in Ghor “was to avenge the Shiites returning from Karbala” who were killed by ISIS in September. The post mocked the Taliban for protecting Shiites.

“#Update. The Taliban militia officially announced that the military operation against the terrorists in Ghor was to avenge the Shiites returning from Karbala who were killed by the terrorists several weeks ago. The Shiite brothers, allies of al-Qaeda, then they say, why are you confronting them.”

• October 21: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that a high-ranking Taliban intelligence commander was killed in the battle in Ghor. The post claims that the Pakistani intelligence services previously employed the commander. 

“#Update. Among those killed in the clashes in Ghor between a large force of Taliban militia and two terrorists is a leader in the Taliban intelligence service, [Saifullah Saeed, a.k.a] Jawad Badr, who is a former employee of Pakistani intelligence before joining the Taliban militia, and there are other dead with this pig [sic].”

• October 21: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that the Taliban dispatched a commander from Kabul to Ghor to avenge the Shiites murdered by ISIS-K in September. The post noted that this commander—likely referring to Saifullah Saeed, a.k.a. Jawad Badr—was then killed fighting ISIS-K.

“#Update. Afghan sources: Taliban militia sent a leader from Kabul to carry out an operation against terrorists in Ghor ‘in revenge for the Shiites’ after failing to confront them. When he arrived, the terrorists received him and killed him in the name of the Karbala tragedy. Then they tell you about Islam.”

• October 21: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the Bagrami District police chief, Mullah Abar, was killed with his bodyguard on the outskirts of Kabul by an unidentified gunman.

“#Urgent. A gunman attacked Mullah Abrar, the police chief of Bagrami District, and his bodyguard, Wasehullah, in the town of Syed Jamaluddin on the outskirts of Kabul, killing them instantly.”

• October 21: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that a Taliban military vehicle was attacked with explosives by unidentified individuals in Badghis.

“#Urgent. An explosive device exploded targeting a Taliban military vehicle in the Afghan city of Badghis.”

• October 22: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that unidentified gunmen killed two Taliban soldiers riding a motorcycle in Nangarhar. The post noted that the gunmen stole the soldiers’ motorcycle and weapons.

“#Urgent. An armed attack targeted two Taliban militia members riding a motorcycle in the area between Kemah and Goshta in the Afghan province of Nangarhar yesterday evening, which led to their deaths. The gunmen also seized the motorcycle and the weapons of the two members.”

• October 23: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that there was an explosion near the Pamir Cinema in Kabul.

“#Urgent. An explosion rocks the Pamir Cinema area in the Afghan capital, Kabul.”

• October 23: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that there was an explosion near the Agricultural Development Bank in Kabul. Please note that this is the same attack as the one above; the Agricultural Development Bank and the Pamir Cinema are next to one another.

“#Urgent. An explosion occurred near the Agricultural Development Bank affiliated with the Taliban militia in the first district of the Afghan capital, Kabul.”

• October 23: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram containing a video that claims to show the explosion in Kabul and stating that it “targeted a gathering of Shiite[s].”

“#Update of the moment of the Kabul explosion that targeted a gathering of Shiite settlers.”

• October 23: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that 26 people were killed or injured in the Kabul attack.

“#Update. 26 killed or wounded in the initial toll of Kabul bombing.”

• October 24: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that a Taliban leader was killed and four soldiers were injured in the earlier fighting in Ghor province.

“#Update. A Taliban leader was killed, and four others were injured in the clash.”

• October 24: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram with another photo of the Taliban intelligence commander who was killed in Ghor.

“#Update. A photo of the leader of the Taliban militia intelligence service, [Saifullah Saeed, a.k.a] Jawad Badr, who was killed by the terrorists [ISIS].”

• October 24: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that there was an explosion in the Karte Naw area in Kabul.

“#Urgent. A violent explosion rocks the Karte Naw district in the Afghan capital, Kabul.”

• October 24: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that an explosive device killed two Taliban soldiers in the city of Maymana in Faryab province.

“Urgent. Two Taliban militia members were killed when their military post in the Maymana area of ​​the Afghan province of Faryab was targeted by an explosive device.”

• October 24: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that three members of the Shiite “Afghan Fatemiyoun militia” were killed near Arak, in Syria.

“#Urgent. An attack in the Tadmur desert targeted a point of the Afghan Fatemiyoun militia in the Arak area east of Tadmur, resulting in the killing of three militia members, including a leader.”

• October 24: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram citing “unreliable” sources claiming that 10 Taliban soldiers were killed and 20 were wounded in an attack on a headquarters in Faryab province.

“#Urgent. Local sources (unreliable): 10 Taliban militia members killed and 20 others injured as a result of an armed attack after an explosive device exploded at their headquarters in the province of Faryab.”

• October 24: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram mocking the Taliban for offering condolences to the Turkish government following the attack on Turkish Aerospace Industries, allegedly by the Kurdistan Workers Party.

“#Entertainment. As we expected, the Afghan Taliban militia issued a statement of condolence and condemnation and said that it received the news of the Ankara attack ‘with great sadness.’ May God perpetuate the sorrows.”

• October 25: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram condemning the Taliban—and particularly the group’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid—for declaring that they want good relations with Iran and India and are working to improve economic ties.

“#Follow-up. The croaker on behalf of the Taliban militia: ‘We want good relations with Iran and India and we have now strengthened our economic relations with them so far and we will cooperate in other areas.’ It is noteworthy that Iran and India are the two countries that ‘continue’ to kill and persecute Muslims in Central and West Asia.”

• October 25: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that five Pakistani soldiers were killed and four were wounded in an attack near the Afghan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

“#Urgent. Five Pakistani soldiers killed and four others injured in an armed ambush in Tirah Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, near the Afghan border.”

• October 25: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that vehicles carrying 150 prisoners accused of terrorism offenses were attacked near Islamabad, leading to the escape of an undeclared number of detainees.

“#Urgent. Armed men attacked a truck carrying 150 detainees (accused of terrorism) who were on their way to a Pakistani prison near Islamabad, causing all the prisoners to escape.”

• October 25: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that the Taliban intelligence chief for Kunduz, Rashid Munib, was targeted in an attack on his home.

“#Urgent. An armed attack targeted the house of the Afghan Taliban militia intelligence director, Rashid Munib, in Kunduz city this morning, which resulted in material damage according to the initial toll.”

• October 25: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that unidentified attackers murdered the Taliban leader Mullah Aziz Gul in Khost.

“#Urgent. An armed attack targeted one of the leaders of the Taliban militia, Mullah Aziz Gul, in the Zazai Maidan area of ​​the Afghan province of Khost, which led to his immediate death.”

• October 25: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that unidentified gunmen killed two Pakistani police officers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“#Urgent. An armed attack targeted a police vehicle this morning in the Mamti Khel and Jani Khel areas in the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which resulted in the killing of the officer of the Jani Khel station, Syed Rehman, and his bodyguard.”

• October 25: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that unidentified gunmen killed a member of the Jamiat Ulema Islam party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“#Urgent. An armed attack targeted a member of the Democratic Islamic Scholars Party (Jamiat Ulema Islam) in the Bannu area of ​​Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, which led to his immediate death.”

• October 25: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram mocking the Taliban for condemning Israel’s air attack on Iran. The post noted that this was done to “please” the Shiites.

“#Entertainment. Afghan Taliban militia condemns Israel's attack on Iran. Noting that the attack is just a bunch of nonsense that does not even deserve the ink the statement is written on, the militia is quick to condemn it to please Shiite settlers. That means the government and so on.”

3. ISIS Amaq/Nashir Statements

There were no Amaq/Nashir statements the week of October 19–25.

4. ISIS-K Linked Al-Azaim Web Magazine Voice of Khorasan Issue 40, Released on October 21, 2024 

Summary: 

On October 21, the ISIS-K linked al-Azaim Media propaganda group released issue 40 of the English language web magazine Voice of Khorasan. Two main articles stated that despite claims from the West and the Taliban to have defeated ISIS, the group continues to fight and accused the Taliban of seeking close relations with Iran, China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Another article condemned religious leaders in Turkey, who are described as worshiping money and power. 

Additional articles included a story of an ISIS fighter from Algeria from possibly 2014 or 2015, that was initially on pro-ISIS al-Bayan radio, articles emphasizing faith and prayer, and stories of Khadijah, the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad, and Aisha, the Prophet’s third wife. 

Infographics called for young ISIS supporters to immigrate to territory held by the terrorist group including signs of the apocalypse, celebrated the 40th issue of the web magazine, and listed six signs of injustice. As with previous issues, the web magazine included a wallet for sending the privacy cryptocurrency Monero. The last page of the web magazine encouraged attacks on the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November.