According to Professor Anvar Yuldoshev, there are currently over 20 terrorist groups in Afghanistan. The largest of these is "ISIS-Khorasan," which was established in 2015 and has nearly 6,000 fighters. Another group in Afghanistan, "Tawhid and Jihad," is led predominantly by individuals from Uzbekistan, he notes.
Although the Taliban have controlled all of Afghanistan since August 15, 2021, and claim they will prevent the country from becoming a hub of terrorism again, the ISIS-Khorasan branch remains a significant threat.
Afghan expert Anvar Yuldoshev states that currently, there are more than 20 terrorist groups in Afghanistan. Among them, the largest is "ISIS-Khorasan," with nearly 6,000 fighters.
"ISIS-Khorasan" was formed in Afghanistan in 2015. Within the group are other subgroups, such as the "Imam al-Bukhari" group (composed of Uzbeks), "Jabhat al-Nusra," and the "East Turkestan Islamic Movement." These groups fall under the umbrella of "ISIS-Khorasan." Additionally, the "Tawhid and Jihad" group, which emerged in Idlib, Syria, in 2014, has over 3,000 fighters and is led mainly by Uzbeks," he says.
Afghan expert Suhrob Buronov confirms that the "Khorasan branch" of ISIS is still active in Afghanistan, as verified by the United Nations and relevant states.
"There is no guarantee that this organization, which has been carrying out various terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, does not pose a threat or impact neighboring states. For instance, in 2022 and 2023, the group claimed responsibility for attacks on the embassies of Pakistan and Russia in Afghanistan, as well as an attack on a hotel frequented by Chinese investors," Buronov says.
Political analyst Kamoliddin Rabbimov adds that although the "Khorasan branch" of ISIS is the largest terrorist group in Afghanistan, its resources and capabilities to claim real power are quite limited.
"Today, the Taliban control the state completely, and ISIS-Khorasan exists as a competitor. They carry out various terrorist activities from time to time to assert their opposition to the Taliban. However, their resources and capabilities are minimal, so they operate covertly within society. If the Taliban discovers their headquarters, they will certainly attack. This group does not have the extensive resources necessary to pose a significant threat to the region," Rabbimov explains.
On September 4, conferences were held in Tashkent by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure and the CIS to combat terrorism and extremism. During the event, Uzbekistan’s State Security Service Chairman Abdusalom Azizov called on SCO member states to support Afghanistan in the fight against "Khorasan Province."
"The Afghan government is fighting international terrorism with its available resources and capabilities. The Afghan special services are leading the fight against ISIS-Khorasan and have achieved certain results. Therefore, we must join forces against the enemy. Providing assistance to Afghanistan in combating 'Khorasan Province' is crucial because weakening countermeasures could lead to the strengthening of this group, which in turn would threaten regional security," said Lieutenant General Abdusalom Azizov.
