US and Afghan officials are playing up the threat posed by the ISIS
affiliate operating in Afghanistan, known as ISIS-K. They say the group is rapidly gaining international reach, and that a threat against the West is only a matter of time.
ISIS-K has been an enduring presence in parts of Afghanistan,
particularly in Nangarhar Province. The group has been targeted by
repeated offensives, and the Afghan government has falsely claimed the
group had been wiped out several times.
With the main ISIS groups in Iraq and Syria fading into obscurity, and
controlling less and less territory, a lot of focus is shifting to
ISIS-K, who at least is alive and functioning. Both Russia and the US have warned over the past month that this group is getting substantially bigger.
US officials say that since the ISIS core mandate is external attacks, it is necessary that the ISIS-K group’s main goal is to attack Western targets as well, adding “it is very scary.”
So far ISIS-K has been very focused in attacking Afghanistan itself, and
the immediate areas around the border. US intelligence officials say
that they believe ISIS-K attacks in Kabul are just “practice runs” for
bigger attacks in Europe and North America.
Though ISIS-K is clearly getting larger, Russia’s concern that the group
might attack north across the border into the former Soviet states
might be more likely than attacks so far from their base of operations.
For US officials averse to a peace deal with the Taliban, which
necessarily requires a US pullout from Afghanistan, playing up the
threat of ISIS-K is a chance to try to justify continued military
intervention.
Poor West. I really feel sorry for it. Mortal dangers everywhere, Defending on all fronts! Getting together with fellow sufferers in Normandy to remember happy old days of the alliance. And be on the lookout for new Hitlers sprouting everywhere.
From Normandy, fly East, to St.Petersburg Economic Forum, where Russia and China addressed thousands of business, political and academia leaders, Surely, disturbed West was on the agenda, but what prevailed is nit looking into past, but future. Projects in science, technology, energy and agriculture, complimentary opportunities, regional and Eurasian integration, connectivity, e-commerce, one can sense excitement and optimism. There is no talk of making somebody pay for defense or who is calling shots, who is senior or junior. As if accepting that we are together, on one planet, needing each other, big or small.
What happened? Where are exciting new projects in the West? Once upon the time, tunnel was built to connect Europe mainland to UK. But later, new members from the Eastern Europe to Ireland ended up with roads that were excessively expensive and are loaded with debt, and incredibly high taxes to pay for them. Ireland being prime example. Where are new fast railroads in North America, exciting projects linking North and South America? Why is West stuck with defending the planet as if it is its colonial possession? And getting tired and broke in the process. And while boasting many allies, all of the same allies are itching to get some share of trade and investment with Russia and China. Starting economic and digital wars will not impose supremacy, but making West more isolated. Some countries resist this. Take Denmark. While dutifully obedient to Western diktats, developed a thriving relations with China. Its top global shipper, MERK, is making record profits of partnering with Chinese. Its green energy expertise and Chinese technology resulted in Denmark generating 45% oof its energy needs from wind turbines. And it has a highest number of Chinese tourists – who by the way spend more money while visiting then any other nationality. Even Russian tourists spend more money per tourist then Europeans. French and German are at the bottom of the list. Can West do anything to stop Russian- Indian weapons coproduction? Not really. It has been very successful. Can West stop Japan from hiring Russia to finally deal with Fukushima radiation pouring into Pacific? Or blame them for hiring Russian companies to asses the worthiness of plants remaining in production, or safety of those shut down? Or Italy for letting China rebuild their technologically decrepit ports of Trieste and Genoa? Examples are too many.
So, if West stops manufacturing mortal enemies, and focuses on its own prosperity, there would be less looking backwards and mire into the future.
Sure, we engaged in naked aggression against Afghanistan, and any militants who survive our meddling will be highly motivated and expert at inflicting death and destruction. Or maybe unlike the US they are too smart to go to the far side of the world to wack a hornet’s nest and will focus on the political goals they can actually achieve.
Yeah, one problem though. This iSIS franchise is definitely an American front. A few months ago, they were harassed by the Taliban in Badghis ( I think, it was somewhere north), they surenderd to the Government for protection. Of the personnel who surrendered, there were quite a few French. There is no way they way they got in via the nearby Uzbek or Iranian borders. Even the PK border is now fenced. The only way they came was via Bagram. It hard to predict what these troublemakers would do, or what their mysterious benefactors would have them do.
Interesting theory, but surely there are other possible explanations, like bribing border guards or slipping across the border somewhere remote. I’m not saying the US is above doing truly bizarre and convoluted maneuvers.