Afghanistan Content Report

May 25  – June 7, 2024

Table of contents

1. ISIS Al-Naba Newsletter Edition 445, Published May 30, 2024, Edition 446, Published June 6, 2024
2. Pro-ISIS Online Chatter
3. ISIS Amaq Statements
4. Pro-ISIS Al-Azaim Infographic, Released on June 6, 2024
5. Pro-ISIS Al-Azaim Web Magazine “Voice of Khorasan” Issue 36, Released on June 7, 2024 
6. Al-Qaeda Communique Regarding Flooding in Afghanistan, Released on May 30, 2024

Main points (Pro-ISIS online chatter)

• Taliban officials met with the president of the United Arab Emirates to discuss counterterrorism efforts in Afghanistan.
• A Taliban member was killed in Bajaur, a Taliban intelligence official was killed in Ghor Province, and attacks in Pakistan resulted in the death of a member of the political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and a police officer.
• Russia is moving to delist the Taliban from their list of terrorist organizations.

1. ISIS Al-Naba Newsletters

Edition 445 Published May 30, 2024

• “A member of the Taliban militia was assassinated by mujahideen fire in the Bajaur border area.”

“This week, the soldiers of the Caliphate killed a member of the apostate Taliban militia in an attack in the Bajaur border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan. In detail, with the grace of God Almighty, on Monday (19 Dhul-Qa’dah), the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted a member of the apostate Taliban militia in the village of Inayat in the Bajaur region with pistol shots, which led to his death, praise be to God. A special source told al-Naba that the dead member had participated in the campaign against the Islamic State in Kunar years ago and was a guard for one of the prominent Taliban leaders. After the mujahideen tracked him down, they spotted him in the Bajaur area and put an end to his evil, praise be to God.”

• “Last week.”

“The soldiers of the Caliphate in Khorasan Province carried out an armed attack last week against a group of Christians from the countries of the Crusader alliance, accompanied by several Shiites, in the city of Bamiyan, which contains idols of Buddha. They [ISIS-K fighters] killed and wounded about 12 of them and also shot down about 20 members of the Taliban militia. One person was killed and wounded in a powerful explosion that destroyed their [Taliban] bus in their stronghold in Kandahar.”

• “A member of the Taliban militia was killed by the mujahideen in the Bajaur area.”

Edition 446, Published June 6, 2024

• “Caliphate soldiers kill a Taliban leader, his companion, and a member of a political party in separate attacks in Khorasan Province.”

“Caliphate soldiers in Khorasan Province killed a Taliban militia leader and his companion in an armed attack this week in central Afghanistan. The mujahideen also killed a member of the apostate political party called the Society of Islamic Scholars, in addition to a police officer in Pakistan.”

• “A Taliban leader and his guard were killed.”

“In detail, with the grace of God Almighty, on Sunday (25 Dhu al-Qa’dah), the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted a leader of the apostate Taliban militia in the village of Shinia in the Dawlat Yar region of Ghor in central Afghanistan with machine guns, which led to his killing and the killing of his guard and the seizing of his weapons, praise be to God. It was reported that he [the Taliban leader] held a leadership position in militia intelligence. The attack in this region is considered a new expansion of the mujahideen operations in Afghanistan.” 

• “Killing of a political party member.”

“On the other hand, on Friday (23 Dhu al-Qa’dah), the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted a member of the apostate political party Jami’at al-Islami Ulema in the town of Latamber in the Karak region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with pistol shots, which led to his death, praise God. A private source reported to al-Naba that the dead member was extremely hostile and harmful to the monotheists in the region. The source added that whoever calls for monotheism in those areas is subjected to attacks from the followers of this malicious party, to the point of killing him or informing on him to be captured by the apostate Pakistani government, as they did repeatedly in previous times.”

• “A policeman was killed in Bajaur.”

“On a related level, on Wednesday (Dhu al-Qa’dah 28), the soldiers of the Caliphate assassinated a member of the apostate Pakistani police in the village of Inayat in the Bajaur region, with pistol shots, and praise be to God.”

• “Last week.”

“Last week, the soldiers of the Caliphate killed a member of the apostate Taliban militia in an armed attack in the Bajaur border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

2. Pro-ISIS Online Chatter

• May 27: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram criticizing the Taliban and Hamas as “people of falsehood.” The photo shows Hamas’ political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, meeting with Taliban leaders in Tehran earlier in May. 

“You always find people of falsehood loving each other. Meeting loved ones in Iran.”

• May 27: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that unknown individuals have killed a Taliban member in Bajaur. ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attack.

“#Urgent. A member of the Taliban militia named ‘Bashir Khan Badshah’ was killed in an armed attack in the Pakistani city of Bajaur.”

• May 28: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that Russia is removing the Taliban from their list of terrorist organizations. Voice of America reported on May 27 that Russia was moving towards delisting the Taliban. The act of delisting has not yet taken place.

“#Follow. Russia decides to remove Taliban from the list of terrorist organizations.”

• May 29: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that a Pakistani police officer was killed by unknown gunmen in Peshawar.

“#Urgent. A Pakistani police officer was killed by gunfire in the city of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

• May 29: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that there was an explosion in Kabul.

“#Urgent. Afghanistan: A recent explosion rocks the fourth district of Kabul.”

• June 1: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram claiming that unknown gunmen killed a member of the Pakistani political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. ISIS took responsibility for the attack later on June 1.

“#Urgent. A pistol attack targeted ‘Zeeshan,’ a member of the Pakistani Democratic Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, in the Karak area of ​​Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leading to his death.”

• June 2: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the Taliban’s deputy chief of intelligence in Ghor was killed. ISIS took responsibility for the attack later that day.

“#Urgent. An armed attack targeted the deputy head of the intelligence branch of the Taliban militia, ‘Syed Noor Muhammad,’ in the Afghan city of Ghor, which led to his death.”

• June 2: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that one of the deputy chief of inteligence’s guards was also killed in the Ghor attack.

“The attack also resulted in the death of one of his guards.”

• June 4: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the Taliban interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, and the Taliban intelligence chief, Abdul Haq Wasiq, met with the president of the United Arab Emirates, to discuss counter terrorism efforts in Afghanistan.

“#Followup of the meeting between Taliban militia leaders Sirajuddin Haqqani and Intelligence Chief Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq and the President of the United Arab Emirates state, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to discuss the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan #You_will_not_succeed.”

• June 5: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that the Taliban previously allowed the U.S. to kill al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan and that the Taliban are now “shaking hands with” the leader of the United Arab Emirates, which has fought against al-Qaeda in Yemen.

“Yesterday, they handed over al-Zawahiri to America, and today they are shaking hands with those who killed al-Qaeda in #Yemen and the al-Qaeda organization, without sense or feeling!”

• June 5: Pro-ISIS post on Telegram stating that a Pakistani police officer was killed in Bajaur. ISIS later claimed responsibility for this attack.

“#Urgent. A Pakistani police officer was killed in an armed attack targeting him in the Shah Wali Bazaar area of ​​Bajaur.”

3. ISIS Amaq Statements

• May 27: ISIS claims to have killed a member of the Taliban in Bajaur.

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

• June 1: ISIS claims to have killed a member of the Pakistani political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam in the Karak district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Khorasan Province. By the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted a member of the apostate political party (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam) in the town of Latamber in the Karak region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa yesterday with pistol shots, which led to his death, praise be to God.”

• June 2: ISIS claims to have killed a Taliban leader and his guard in Ghor province.

“Khorasan Province. By the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted a leader of the apostate Taliban militia in the village of Shenih in the Daulat Yar area of ​​Ghor with machine guns, which led to his death along with his guard, praise be to God.”

• June 5: ISIS claims to have killed a Pakistani police officer in Bajaur.

“Khorasan Province. By the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the Caliphate targeted a member of the apostate Pakistani police in the village of Inayat in the Bajaur region with pistol shots, which led to his death, praise be to God.”

4. Pro-ISIS Al-Azaim Infographic, Released on June 6, 2024

• The infographic states that the Taliban are the same as Shiites.
• It claims that both are polytheists, believe in religious innovation, support “bigotry and nationalism,” believe in dividing Muslims based on ethnicity, commit acts of violence against women and children, and cooperate with nonbelievers.

5. Pro-ISIS Al-Azaim Web Magazine “Voice of Khorasan” Issue 36, Released on June 7, 2024 

Article 1: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

• The article describes the Taliban as hypocrites who try to deceive their followers.
  • This hypocrisy is portrayed as worse than disbelief.
• After 20 years of war, the Taliban decided to shake hands with the U.S. and kill members of ISIS-K.
  • Rather than work to perfect religious rule, the Taliban have instead decided to abandon this effort and attack those calling for religious law.
• The Taliban claims to support the implementation of religious law, but this is a sham.
  • The Taliban are a proxy militia for the U.S., fighting on their behalf against ISIS-K.
• Naeem Wardak, the head of the Afghan embassy in Qatar, claimed that the Taliban do not have a problem with Israel and that China’s persecution of Uyghurs is an internal matter.
• Abbas Stanikzai, the deputy foreign minister, has previously said that the Taliban would embrace democracy if the people demanded it.
• Mullah Baradar, the acting deputy prime minister for economic affairs, has stated that the Taliban will not pose a threat to American security.
• The Taliban have spied on ISIS-K through “international agencies, intelligence organizations, and … governments to please the United Nations.”
• The Taliban have abandoned divine laws in exchange for human-made laws.
• Iran has claimed that intelligence from the Taliban has helped them against ISIS.
• The Taliban have stated that the time for fighting is over, contravening religiously mandated fighting.
  • The Taliban do not believe in fighting on behalf of Muslims in other countries, such as China, and the Taliban have justified Russian attacks against Muslims in Syria.
  • Sirajuddin Haqqani has also stated that the issue of Palestine is an internal matter [it is unclear internal to whom].
• Taliban Grand Mufti Abdul Hakim Haqqani has supported the case of Palestine at the International Court of Justice, which shows his hypocrisy and support for human-made laws and courts.
• Taliban leaders have also offered their condolences for the deaths of world leaders, such as the emir of Kuwait, which is “pathetic and embarrassing.”
• The Taliban have also honored Qassem Soleimani despite his role in fighting Sunnis in the region.
• The Taliban only care about their interests and do not care about religion.
  • China recently announced 100 million yuan ($13,797,290) in aid to Afghanistan, which helps explain the Taliban’s support for the One China policy.
• The Taliban reject the Islamic world and Islamic values.
  • The Taliban have spoken about the need to cultivate “national values,” which is a perversion of religion.

Infographic 1

Article 2: What is Happening to the Earth?

By Khattab al-Iraqi

• Natural disasters occur because people have turned away from God.
  • There have been a large quantity of floods, earthquakes, fires, and epidemics recently.
• The article lists countries where floods have occurred “in the last six months.”
  • Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Argentina, Afghanistan, Brazil, France, Iran, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, and Uruguay.

Article 3: The Brave Woman of Uhud: Umm ‘Amarah

• An article about Umm ’Amarah, one of the first two women from Medina to become Muslim.
• She was born in 573 and became a Muslim in 613. 
• Umm ‘Amarah participated in the Battle of Uhud (March 23, 635), taking care of the wounded and bringing water to the battlefield. She later fought during the battle when it became necessary.
• She is described as self-sacrificing, and continuing to fight despite being severely wounded.

Article 4: O Polytheist Indian Kings! Be Ready to Face Mahmud Ghaznavi Again!

• According to the article, Muslim-majority states are weak because they do not follow true religious law. 
  • This weakness comes from pursuing the earthly life and not participating in religiously mandated fighting.
• The Indian government desecrates Muslim sanctities and oppresses Muslims in India.
• The article encourages committing terrorist attacks in India.
• The Hindu nationalist party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is the peak of anti-Muslim sentiment in India. 
• BJP members attacked the Babri Masjid in Uttar Pradesh in December 1992. 
  • The site of the Babri Masjid has been dishonored.
  • BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma insulted the Prophet Muhammad, and other BJP politicians have similarly insulted the Prophet Muhammad or used dehumanizing language to describe Muslims.
• BJP candidates have promoted hatred against Muslims.
  • This behavior is typical among both low-level and higher-ranking candidates.
  • Narendra Modi recently called Muslims “infiltrators” (April 23, 2024).
• The BJP has also used anti-Muslim language on their social media pages.
  • The BJP is an anti-Muslim party that seeks to subjugate and oppress Muslims. 
• Despite the behavior of the BJP, the Taliban have still sought to create close relations with India.
  • The Taliban do not question the anti-Muslim policies of the BJP.
  • The Taliban wants to improve Afghanistan’s economy, which explains their relationship with India.
• The Taliban have shared intelligence with India regarding ISIS.
  • The Taliban call themselves India’s regional partners.
• There is no difference between the BJP and the Taliban.
  • They both want to destroy the believers.
• The article calls for terrorist attacks in India using whatever is available.
  • The article suggests committing ramming attacks with cars, as well as using knives and committing arson.

Article 5: Hikmah [Wisdom]

• Disasters are unavoidable because God ordains them.
• The article describes a day when sinners will be sent to Hell.
  • The only way to avoid this is to follow the religiously mandated path.

Article 6: The Virtue of the 10 Days of Dhul-Hijjah

• A version of this article appeared in the ISIS web magazine Rumiyah, originally released in September 2016.
• The article encourages performing virtuous deeds during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah (June 7 to June 16, 2024).
  • Examples given are fasting, performing the Hajj, and religiously mandated fighting.
  • The article focuses on fighting as more important than voluntary deeds.

Article 7: Light of Darkness 3

• The article warns the reader of the danger of using social media platforms.
  • The article cites Facebook as an example of how social media platforms track users for advertising purposes.
• The article lists scandals by social media platforms:
  • Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018.
  • Concern regarding the YouTube algorithm pushing users towards extreme content.
  • Disinformation campaigns on Twitter/X using bots and fake accounts.
  • Instagram and body image issues.
  • Privacy concerns regarding TikTok.
• User data on social media is not safe.
  • All social media users should assume they are under government surveillance.
• The article warns of apps that link to social media accounts and can harvest data, fake accounts, scam apps, scammers using social engineering, data leaks, and phishing attempts.
• The article advises taking several measures to secure one’s social media account, such as: using two-factor authentication, verifying links, keeping one’s profile private, using strong unique passwords, reporting suspicious activity, using the latest security features, using advanced privacy settings, being mindful of phishing attempts, and monitoring unusual activity. 

Article 8: On the Path of Being a Faithful Servant 4

• The article encourages religiously mandated fighting.
• The article condemns Sufism. 

The web magazine concludes by calling for donations using the privacy cryptocurrency Monero.

6. Al-Qaeda Communique Regarding Flooding in Afghanistan, Released on May 30, 2024

Al-Qaeda’s central command issued a message on May 30 offering condolences to the people of Afghanistan regarding recent flooding in the country. The post reaffirmed al-Qaeda’s support for the Taliban and called for financial donations to help those affected by the disaster, claiming that international relief had been paltry.