- Sputnik International
Asia
Find top stories and features from Asia and the Pacific region. Keep updated on major political stories and analyses from Asia and the Pacific. All you want to know about China, Japan, North and South Korea, India and Pakistan, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

ISIL, Taliban Competing for Leadership in Afghanistan - Russian Ambassador

© AFP 2023 / STRIn this photograph taken on October 13, 2015, Afghan Taliban militants gather around parts of a US F-16 aircraft that was struck over in Sayid Karam district of eastern Paktia province
In this photograph taken on October 13, 2015, Afghan Taliban militants gather around parts of a US F-16 aircraft that was struck over in Sayid Karam district of eastern Paktia province - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Igor Lyakin-Frolov, the Russian ambassador to Tajikistan, said that the Taliban operates mainly in Afghanistan, while Islamic State has become associated with international terrorism due to its clear jihadist-expansionist orientation.

An Islamic State flag - Sputnik International
Asia
ISIL Militants in Afghanistan Estimated at 3,500 - Russian Ambassador
DUSHANBE (Sputnik) — The Islamic State (ISIL) militant group is competing with the Taliban movement for leadership among the extremist groups operating in Afghanistan, the Russian ambassador to Tajikistan said Friday.

“The relations between the Taliban movement and ISIL in Afghanistan can currently be characterized as rivalry,” Igor Lyakin-Frolov said in an interview to RIA Novosti.

The ambassador said that the Taliban operates mainly in Afghanistan, while Islamic State has become associated with international terrorism due to its clear jihadist-expansionist orientation.

A member of the Taliban insurgent and other people stand at the site during the execution of three men in Ghazni Province on April 18, 2015. - Sputnik International
US, Pakistan Call on Taliban to Return to Afghan Peace Talks
“They have different views on the future structure of the country,” the diplomat stressed.

According to him, the Taliban intends to restore its power only in Afghanistan, while ISIL consider the territory to be a part of a larger quasi-state.

Earlier in October, the Russian General Staff reported that the number of ISIL militants in Afghanistan had reached 3,500 people. The tactic employed by ISIL in the country is to capture new territories and recruit militants from regional terrorist groups, according to the head of the intelligence department of the Russian Defense Ministry’s General Staff.

Also diplomat stated that the United States and their NATO allies failed to achieve a victory over terrorists in Afghanistan.

“At the moment we can say for sure that the United States and their NATO allies have completely failed in their mission in Afghanistan of 14 years. No one speaks of a military victory over the Taliban today,” Lyakin-Frolov said.

US Air Force F-16 fighter jet - Sputnik International
Taliban Struck US F-16 Jet in Rare Fire Attack in Afghanistan
He added that NATO’s poor advances in the alliance's longstanding anti-terrorist struggle in Afghanistan calls into question its ability to defeat both the Taliban and ISIL.

Afghanistan continues to be in political and social turmoil as several militant groups take advantage of instability in the country, which has persisted since the 2001 US-led invasion.

The US-led NATO combat force withdrew from Afghanistan in December 2014. However, more than 10,000 US military personnel remain in the country as part of the Resolute Support mission.

Earlier in October, US President Barack Obama announced that the United States would reduce the number of its troops in Afghanistan to 5,500 in 2017.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала