Open figure viewer
Subject
The Islamic State group's ambitions in Afghanistan.
Significance
In a bid to offset its reverses in Syria and Iraq, Islamic State (IS) is strengthening its Afghan presence with members arriving from abroad to join local recruits. Despite having a presence in Afghanistan since 2015, IS has not achieved the swift and large expansion it saw in the Middle East as it is competing with the long-established Taliban.
Impacts
If IS grows stronger in northern Afghanistan, it might revive plans to infiltrate Central Asian republics.
Differences on how to deal with IS will divide the Taliban leadership.
Russia and Iran will engage with parts of the Taliban and encourage them to fight IS.
Keywords:
Afghanistan,
AP,
Central Asia,
Iraq,
Syria,
international relations,
politics,
civil war,
military,
security,
terrorism,
ethnic,
religion
© Oxford Analytica 2020. All rights reserved. This content contains general information about geopolitical, macroeconomic and social developments or (where stated) other matters. It does not contain advice or recommendations that may be relied on. Where links to external websites are provided, this does not indicate that Oxford Analytica or Emerald agree with, endorse or have checked for accuracy the contents of said sites.
2018
You do not currently have access to this content.
