DUSHANBE, 10.12.2021 (NIAT Khovar) – “I am convinced that the Taliban’s lightning-fast takeover of Kabul is a source of inspiration for other terrorist groups who wish to escalate their jihadist campaigns,” says Chief Scientific Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Chairman of the Society for Friendship and Cultural Relations of Tajikistan and Afghanistan, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Kosimsho Iskandarov.

According to him, the international community, major powers, and particularly the neighboring countries fear that Afghanistan will once again turn into a safe haven for international terrorists.

“Based on this, American leaders believe that after some time ISIS from Afghanistan may threaten US’ security. This opinion also exists with regard to Al-Qaeda,” Iskandarov adds.

He notes that the Taliban have been saying what others wish to hear from them for more than two years in the course of meetings and negotiations.

“They promise to resist drug smuggling, not to violate the borders of Central Asian states, and so on, but everyone knows that 90% of drugs have been grown in the territories controlled by the Taliban,” he emphasizes.

Iskandarov wonders why no barriers have been set up against this. Moreover, on January 12-15, 2018, the UN Security Council mission in Afghanistan reported that in 2017 the Taliban had received approximately between $400 million to $500 million from the drug trade. At present, the entire territory of Afghanistan, including the external borders, is controlled by the Taliban, but drug smuggling continues.

Iskandarov believes that, perhaps, due to their lack of opportunities and resources, in the short term the Taliban themselves will not try to interfere in the affairs of other countries.

“However, as you know, there are many other terrorist organizations in Afghanistan that intend to create problems for neighboring countries, and the Taliban are not going to put a barrier in their way, on the contrary, they will support them. On the other hand, within the ranks of the Taliban there are enough fanatical militants or jihadists who consider jihad mandatory for adherents of Islam. There are no guarantees that as long as there is an Islamic Emirate regime with a jihadist ideology in Afghanistan, neighboring countries can feel safe. Another issue is ideological influence,” he emphasizes.

According to Iskandarov, there are many people in Central Asia who rejoiced at the victory of the Taliban. The existence of such a regime inspires Islamists, the so-called «sleeping cells» in the Central Asian countries. Since the Taliban were victorious, and other countries may be forced to reckon and cooperate with them, other terrorist groups may be counting on the same outcome or treatment.

“Many terrorist organizations have operated and are continuing their operation in Afghanistan. Among them are Al-Qaeda, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Islamic Movement of East Turkestan, Ansarullah, Lashkari Tayyiba, Islamic Jihad Union, ISIS Khorasan, and Katibat al Imam Bukhari. According to the UN and other agencies, there is no sign or evidence that the Taliban have severed ties with these organizations. Foreign terrorists have taken part in the last battles in Panjshir,” Iskandarov notes.

The Taliban are, first of all, Afghans, but Pashtuns dominate the group, and it is them that seek the revival of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan. The ISIS-Khorasan are also made up of mostly Pashtuns, but their goal is more global, — the creation of a world caliphate. This is the only thing that fundamentally distinguishes them. In terms of ruthlessness, there is no difference between the two.

Iskandarov thinks that the Taliban are still promising not to fight for the caliphate outside Afghanistan. However, as soon as they are officially recognized by the UN and other countries at the diplomatic level, when they feel strength and support, the situation may change.

According to him, in the meantime, the Taliban will operate within Afghanistan, and will continue to destroy representatives of other ethnic groups both morally and physically, terrifying those who are accustomed to living in a civilized, free state, without fundamentalism. After all, it is difficult for the Taliban to subjugate a country to their will without resorting to constant violence. We saw how young people and women joined protest rallies against them in Kabul, Herat and other cities, as the Taliban continue to trample on women’s rights.

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* All the aforementioned groups are considered to be terrorist organizations in Tajikistan.