Islamic State in Afghanistan

IS to Benefit from Fractured Taliban. Some analysts believe that that the Islamic State in Afghanistan will benefit from the unrest and confusion within the Taliban ranks (and leadership) as a result of the succession battle since the announced death of Mullah Omar. Mullah Omar was one jihadist that could compete with Abu Bakr al-Baghydadi - the leader of the Islamic State. Read more in "ISIS stands to gain from Taliban crisis", The Guardian, August 10, 2015.

Taliban Unhappy with IS. Afghanistan's Taliban is disenchanted with the Islamic State's video that shows IS militants blowing up bound and blindfolded Afghan prisoners with explosives. The video was supposedly shot in eastern Afghanistan but confirmation of its being authentic is still ongoing. Of course, there was no mention in the Taliban statement of its own brutal history of beheading and killing innocent civilians and captured Afghan soldiers and policemen. (Radio Free Europe, Aug 12, 2015)

U.S. General Says IS Gaining in Afghanistan. A recent news report says that BG Wilson Shoffner said the Islamic State is increasing their capabilities in Afghanistan. Read more in "US General Says Islamic State Gaining in Afghanistan", AP, August 13, 2015.