Afghanistan Content Report

March 2 – March 8

Please note that all items this issue are concerning ISIS-K

Table of contents

1. ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 433, Published March 7, 2024
2. Pro-ISIS Online Chatter
3. ISIS Amaq Statements
4. Pro-ISIS Al-Azaim Pamphlet Regarding the Mausoleum of Imam Ali in Mazar-i-Sharif, Released on Telegram on March 4, 2024
5. Pro-ISIS Al-Battar Media Infographic, Released March 5, 2024
6. Pro-ISIS Al-Azaim Pamphlet “Sour Grapes,” Released on Telegram on March 5, 2024

Main points (Pro-ISIS online chatter)

• The Taliban defense minister, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, traveled to attend the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference.
• The U.S. operates drones in Afghan airspace. 
• The Taliban allegedly prevented an attack on the Russian embassy on March 3. 
• Unknown individuals killed the vice president of the Balochistan Shiite Conference in Quetta.

1. ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 433, Published March 7, 2024

• “A member of the Taliban militia was killed in the town of Bara in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.”
• “A member of the apostate Taliban militia was killed in an operation by the Caliphate soldiers in northwest Pakistan.”

“A security detachment of the Caliphate soldiers assassinated a member of the apostate Taliban militia in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northwestern Pakistan. In detail, with the grace of God Almighty, on Tuesday (Shaban 24), the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted a member of the apostate Taliban militia in the town of Bara in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region with pistol shots, which led to his death, praise be to God.

“A private source told Al-Naba that the dead member was one of the evil advocates in the militia and one of the instigators of fighting the Mujahideen for years.”

• “Last week.”

“Last week, a security detachment of the Caliphate soldiers in Khorasan Province killed two members of the Pakistani Intelligence in the Bajaur border area.”

2. Pro-ISIS Online Chatter

• March 3: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the Taliban defense minister was traveling to Doha “to receive new orders” from the U.S. and Qatar. Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob traveled to Doha to participate in the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference.

“#Contemplation. The defense tyrant betrayed the apostate #Taliban militia to Doha to receive new orders from its masters.”

• March 5: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob met with his Qatari counterpart—allegedly “to receive American orders,” referencing the Doha Agreement.

“#Contemplation. The defense tyrant of the apostate Taliban militia meets with the Qatari defense tyrant to receive American orders.”

• March 5: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat, the chief of the general staff of the Armed Forces, stated in an interview that the U.S. controls Afghanistan’s airspace and uses drones within the country.

“#Khorasan. Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat, the tyrant [Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces] of the Ministry of Defense of the apostate Taliban militia, admitted in an interview with Tolo News channel that Afghan airspace is still under America’s management and control and [the U.S.] is still violating it with its drones.”

• March 6: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that Taliban guards found an explosive device near the Russian embassy in Kabul on March 3, likely preventing a terrorist attack. The post stated that the Russian ambassador thanked the Taliban for their actions on March 6.

“#Khorasan. Officials at the Russian embassy in Kabul reported that members of the apostate Taliban militia discovered an explosive device planted near the entrance to their embassy on March 3 and removed it.

“Today, the infidel Russian ambassador visits them to thank them for protecting infidels from Muslims.”

• March 6: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that Ramzan Ali Hazara, the Vice President of the Balochistan Shiite Conference, was killed in an attack in Quetta.

“The vice president of the Balochistan Shiite Conference, Ramzan Ali Hazara, was killed in the Pakistani city of Quetta.”

• March 6: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram with a photo of the Taliban member killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“#Khorasan. #Follow up.”

3. ISIS Amaq Statements

• March 6: ISIS claims to have killed a member of the Taliban in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Khorasan Province. By the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted a member of the apostate Taliban militia in the town of Bara in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region yesterday, with pistol shots, which led to his death, and praise be to God.”

4. Pro-ISIS Al-Azaim Pamphlet Regarding the Mausoleum of Imam Ali in Mazar-i-Sharif, Released on Telegram on March 4, 2024

“A series of unveiling the graves of the Taliban. Shrines and shrines [sic] that are worshipped in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban (Sakhi Jan Shrine in Balkh Province).”

• A nine-page Arabic pamphlet located on Telegram.

Summary

• The worship of gravesites has spread throughout Afghanistan under the Taliban.
  • These gravesites have allegedly become shrines where people engage in polytheism.
  • The Taliban protect these sites despite the group’s claim to have instituted an Islamic government.
• One of these sites is the Mausoleum of Imam Ali in Mazar-i-Sharif in Balkh Province.
  • The Taliban have guards stationed to protect the building and people visiting it.
• The pamphlet accuses people visiting the shrine of engaging in polytheism and blasphemy.
• The pamphlet noted that there are celebrations here during Nowruz.

5. Pro-ISIS Al-Battar Media Infographic, Released March 5, 2024

“And they fought all the polytheists.”

Summary:

• The Taliban supports democracy, the Shiites, and the West.

6. Pro-ISIS al-Azaim pamphlet “Sour Grapes,” Released on Telegram on March 5, 2024

An 18-page pamphlet in Pashto.

Summary:

• The Taliban leaders are all liars.
• The Taliban make deals with China and betray the Uighurs.
• Taliban leaders accept money from the United States and have betrayed their principles.