In a chilling development, the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan, known as ISIS-K, has claimed credit for the deadly terrorist attack in Moscow on Friday. This group, founded in 2015 by disaffected members of the Pakistani Taliban, has been responsible for numerous violent acts, including the 2021 suicide bombing at the airport in Kabul that killed 13 U.S. troops and as many as 170 civilians.
Despite suffering losses due to American airstrikes and Afghan commando raids, ISIS-K has managed to regroup and pose a significant threat to the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan. The group has been engaged in fierce battles with the Taliban, and has even attempted to carry out attacks in Europe and Iran.
Counterterrorism officials warn that ISIS-K retains the capability and will to launch attacks against U.S. and Western interests abroad with little to no warning. The group has been particularly focused on targeting Russia, with a history of criticizing President Vladimir V. Putin for his interventions in various Muslim-majority regions.
As the world grapples with the resurgence of ISIS-K and its global ambitions, the threat of terrorism remains a pressing concern for governments and security agencies worldwide. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
