The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan known as ISIS-K has claimed credit for the recent deadly terrorist attack in Moscow. This group, founded in 2015 by disaffected members of the Pakistani Taliban, has seen its ranks reduced due to American airstrikes and Afghan commando raids. However, ISIS-K gained momentum after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021.
One of the most notable attacks carried out by ISIS-K was a suicide bombing at the international airport in Kabul in August 2021, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. troops and numerous civilians. This incident raised ISIS-K’s international profile and posed a significant threat to the Taliban’s authority.
Since then, the Taliban have been engaged in battles against ISIS-K in Afghanistan to prevent the group from gaining territory or recruiting former Taliban fighters. President Biden and military officials have emphasized the need for continued efforts to combat ISIS-K and other insurgent groups that pose a threat to the United States and its interests abroad.
ISIS-K has also been linked to attacks in other countries, including Iran, where they claimed responsibility for a bombing that killed 84 people during a memorial procession for a slain Iranian commander. The group has now targeted Moscow, with experts noting their focus on Russia in recent years and their criticism of President Vladimir V. Putin for his actions in Muslim-majority regions like Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Syria.
The claim of responsibility for the Moscow attack by ISIS-K underscores the ongoing threat posed by this extremist group and the challenges faced by counterterrorism efforts to prevent further violence.
