The Islamic State no longer exists as a physically defined “country.” However, that doesn’t mean that the organization is any less of a threat. Indeed, with ISIS now switching to a cell-based, global organization, the threat may be more grave than ever before, especially for those outside of Syria and Iraq.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing over the weekend at a voter registration center in Kabul, Afghanistan that has claimed the lives of at least 57 people. At least 54 more were injured in the blast. The bomber apparently detonated the bomb and himself at the gate of the center.
The attack targeted Shiite Muslims in the Dashte Barchi neighborhood of the Afghan capital. The Islamic State and indeed most extremist Islamic groups are Sunni Muslim, a different sect of Islam. ISIS has targeted Shiite Muslims with as much zeal as Westerners. For ISIS, Shiite Muslims are likewise “infidels” to be killed whenever possible.
Come October, Afghanistan will vote for its parliament. After years of harsh, undemocratic rule under the Taliban, Afghanistan has transformed into a democracy, albeit one that is far from the Western ideal. The Islamic State and other extremist groups detest Western democracy and have frequently targeted elections and other democratic institutions.
The most recent attack is far from the first for the Islamic State. On March 21st, 29 people were killed and another 52 were injured in an attack that occurred on Ashura, the Shiite holy day of mourning. Earlier in March, another 9 people were killed when a bomb was detonated at a security checkpoint. In February, a bomb was detonated near Kabul’s diplomatic “Green Zone,” claiming the lives of at least three people.
American Ambassador John Bass rightly labeled the attack as “senseless.”
I strongly condemn this morning’s suicide attack on a voter registration center in #Kabul and offer my condolences to the victims and their families. This senseless violence shows the cowardice and inhumanity of the enemies of democracy and peace in #Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/a2Y5oNN1m7
— Chargé d’Affaires Ross Wilson (@USAmbKabul) April 22, 2018
It’s not just ISIS that’s launching attacks either. In January, Taliban gunmen stormed a hotel, killing 22 people. The two threats are separate. In fact, the Taliban and ISIS rarely work together and in the past, the Taliban has executed its own members for cooperating with ISIS. The two extremist groups have fought each other for territory at times.
Compared to the Islamic State, the Taliban can look rather benign. Of course, that’s far from the truth and even after years of war, the Taliban remains a major threat in Afghanistan. Even with elections approaching, some observers fear that Afghanistan’s tenuous democracy could collapse in the near future.
However, the Afghan government announced in February that it would be willing to recognize the Taliban as a legitimate political party. The Taliban would then be able to compete in elections. In exchange, the Taliban would need to agree to and adhere to a cease-fire. The group hasn’t agreed to the cease-fire but has stated that it would negotiate directly with the American government.
The Islamic State is among the motivating factors for cooperation with both the Taliban and the Afghan government. The group has emerged as a serious power in Afghanistan, threatening the future of both.
