MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Taliban, an Afghanistan-based insurgent group, warned Islamic State militants against rivaling their insurgency in the country, a letter posted online Tuesday states.
The address came amid reports about numerous clashes between Taliban and IS members in parts of Afghanistan, seen as a result of a struggle by the IS to expand its influence in the country by recruiting new members. In late May, clashes between the two radical groups reportedly left at least 27 insurgents dead.
In a letter to IS leader Abu Bakr Baghdadi, posted online, the Taliban urges Islamic State to stop recruiting in Afghanistan, mentioning religious sanctions and stressing that "the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in jihadist activities required to be under one leadership only."
The Islamic State militant group, which captured large swathes of Syria and Iraq, has recently been making inroads in Afghanistan. The spread of the group’s activities to Afghanistan was highlighted by the US Department of State in February.
The United States has led efforts to combat terrorism in Afghanistan since 2001. In March, US President Barack Obama said all remaining US military bases in the country would be closed by the end of 2016.
After NATO ended its International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan in late 2014, the Taliban has boosted its operations in the country.
