February 9, 2015
A drone strike (click here) in
Afghanistan has killed a militant commander who recently swore
allegiance to Islamic State (IS), officials say.
The police chief of Helmand said that former Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Rauf had died in the Nato strike.It emerged last month that Rauf had sworn allegiance to IS after falling out with the Taliban.
Tribal elders in northern Helmand say a car carrying up to six people was destroyed while crossing the desert.
The car was loaded with ammunition and exploded, reports said....
At least they are known. The brutality of the regime is enough to provide clout in some regions. These are not new recruits, they are established organizations consolidating under IS. Probably a promise of weapons or something. The new warlord.
...Where else is Islamic State active?
Egypt: Based in Sinai, the IS branch was essentially a re-branding of Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, which first emerged in 2011 in the wake of the Egyptian revolution.
Libya: Three distinct Libyan IS "provinces" were announced in November - Barqah in the east, Tripoli in the west and Fazzan in the south.
Algeria: A breakaway group from al-Qaeda's North Africa branch (AQIM), the IS branch rose to prominence in September when it beheaded French tourist Herve Gourdel. Since then it has been largely silent.
Yemen and Saudi Arabia: The new branches have not claimed any activities yet but the move represents a symbolic challenge to al-Qaeda.
Afghanistan-Pakistan: IS says its branch here represents the historic Khorasan Province - a region covering Afghanistan, Pakistan and "other nearby lands".
The Khorsan Province is a large geographic area in all three countries. I believe Southern Khorsan is in Iran. If that is correct, Southern Khorsan has a thriving economy.
he
Islamic State jihadist group is reported to be making a push into what
they call as Khorasan, a region that covers Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts
of India, and some surrounding countries.
''We bring the mujahidin the good news of the Islamic State's expansion to Khorasan,'' Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, who claims to be spokesman of the Islamic State, made the announcement in an audiotaped speech posted on jihadi forums.
He also announced the appointment of former Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Hafiz Saeed Khan as governor of the province in Khorasan. Abdul Rauf Khadim, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee and former Taliban commander in southern Afghanistan has been named deputy governor.
- See more at: http://www.domain-b.com/defence/general/20150131_khorasan.html#sthash.r54pYSpL.dpuf
The Movement of the Taliban (click here) in Pakistan's emir for the tribal agency
of Bajaur has defected and joined the Islamic State's branch in the
Khorasan. Maulana Abu Bakr is the latest Taliban commander to defect to
the rival jihadist organization.
''We bring the mujahidin the good news of the Islamic State's expansion to Khorasan,'' Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, who claims to be spokesman of the Islamic State, made the announcement in an audiotaped speech posted on jihadi forums.
He also announced the appointment of former Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Hafiz Saeed Khan as governor of the province in Khorasan. Abdul Rauf Khadim, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee and former Taliban commander in southern Afghanistan has been named deputy governor.
- See more at: http://www.domain-b.com/defence/general/20150131_khorasan.html#sthash.r54pYSpL.dpuf
The Islamic State's Wilayat Khorasan, or Khorasan province, announced that Abu Bakr "has left Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan and given bayat [oath of allegiance] to Khaleefa tul Muslimeen Sheikh Abu Bakr al Baghdadi Hafizahullah at the hand of Wali [governor] of Wilayah Khurasan Hafiz Saeed Khan Hafizahullah."
The short announcement was published in Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, and English on the Internet today. The Khorasan is a geographical region that covers Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of neighboring countries....
An Islamic State is more a charismatic movement in these regions. The practice of the Islamic State has to be made illegal by governance. The reason it should be illegal is because it distorts the definition of Allah and Mohammad. Holy men have to denounce it as an extremist belief designed to remove quality of life to the people it oppresses.
Leadership has to define what is legal and illegal. Perverting a faith is not a minor business. When it is used to define killing and ethnic cleansing it is an enemy to all.
I might point out Saudi Arabia does not have problems with such charismatic movements. The King of Saudi Arabia is also the "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques." Refuting IS as a belief is rather simple.
he
Islamic State jihadist group is reported to be making a push into what
they call as Khorasan, a region that covers Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts
of India, and some surrounding countries.
''We bring the mujahidin the good news of the Islamic State's expansion to Khorasan,'' Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, who claims to be spokesman of the Islamic State, made the announcement in an audiotaped speech posted on jihadi forums.
He also announced the appointment of former Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Hafiz Saeed Khan as governor of the province in Khorasan. Abdul Rauf Khadim, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee and former Taliban commander in southern Afghanistan has been named deputy governor.
- See more at: http://www.domain-b.com/defence/general/20150131_khorasan.html#sthash.r54pYSpL.dpuf
''We bring the mujahidin the good news of the Islamic State's expansion to Khorasan,'' Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, who claims to be spokesman of the Islamic State, made the announcement in an audiotaped speech posted on jihadi forums.
He also announced the appointment of former Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Hafiz Saeed Khan as governor of the province in Khorasan. Abdul Rauf Khadim, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee and former Taliban commander in southern Afghanistan has been named deputy governor.
- See more at: http://www.domain-b.com/defence/general/20150131_khorasan.html#sthash.r54pYSpL.dpuf
