Bitesize analysis of the major extremism stories from around the world in the last seven days.
Defections between ISIS and the Taliban in Afghanistan have the potential to affect the complex dynamics of the two deadly militant groups. The murder of Yemen’s former president led to fresh waves of violence, further obscuring peaceful solutions to the country’s war. Meanwhile, the US defence secretary visited Islamabad amid increased pressure on Pakistan to counter terrorism.
Amid clashes between ISIS and the Taliban in Afghanistan, there have been significant defections between the two groups. A former Taliban commander has switched allegiance and established an ISIS foothold in Jawzjan province. Meanwhile, the deputy leader of ISIS in Afghanistan has rejoined the Taliban, after defecting to ISIS in 2016.
In propaganda footage, former ISIS leader Mullah Abdul Razzaq Mehdi claimed the Taliban was implementing the correct version of sharia. He labelled ISIS’ leadership “ignorant,” adding that ISIS has “no future in Afghanistan because they are extremists and do not have qualified people ... who understand how to run an administration.”
These defections should be understood in the context of the country. Both groups are competing for recruits in a limited pool of human resources. The Taliban video attempts to persuade ISIS members and other would-be militants that the Taliban offers the most devout path and a more capable form of governance. The Taliban has always benefited from its understanding of Afghanistan’s tribal dynamics and used this to appeal to the population.
The Taliban has presented itself as an Islamist insurgency with nationalistic goals, distinct from groups with more global agendas. While ISIS can be seen as a Salafi-jihadi, expansionist force, it purports to be a ‘state builder’ that can provide a physical caliphate for Muslims to live under. ISIS has antagonised the Taliban by encroaching on its domestic agenda. Razzaq’s interview is an example of the Taliban reasserting its objectives.
It is common for Islamist militants to defect and switch allegiance. In the Afghan context, cross-fertilisation between ISIS and the Taliban, particularly at leadership level, has the potential to affect the Taliban’s distinct ideological posture in the future. Ideological fusions across groups and factions within groups could become more common as members move between groups and as objectives and ambitions are altered.
Former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh was killed by the Shia Houthi movement in Sanaa after he switched his allegiance away from the Iranian-backed group. The Houthi movement has also reportedly murdered some of Saleh’s associates, including his nephew.
Despite formerly being aligned against the current UN-recognised Yemeni government and its Arab allies, the Houthis and Saleh forces clashed in Sanaa, resulting in the killing after months of mounting tension. On 2 December, Saleh cut ties with the Houthis, offering to “turn a new page” and negotiate with the Saudi-led coalition, leading the Iranian militant group to threaten retribution.
Since Saleh’s murder, fighting has continued in Houthi-controlled territory. Clashes between his loyalists and the Houthis have flared in Sanaa, where at least 234 people were killed. Reports have said Saleh’s former aide, Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, is coordinating northern tribes against the Houthis. Saleh’s eldest son, Ahmed Ali Saleh, could also enlist support to fight the Shia group. Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition has intensified airstrikes.
The latest dramatic events in Sanaa have clearly escalated tensions. In a conflict with multiple actors, this is a worrying development that could make a peaceful resolution harder. The Saudi-led coalition may now be pressured to respond more strongly, deepening a violent war that has ravaged Yemen and its people.
A US statement said Pakistan must “redouble its efforts to confront militants and terrorists” operating within its borders. The comments, which followed US Defence Secretary James Mattis’s first official visit to Islamabad, called on Pakistan to work with Washington to counter regional Islamist militant groups.
Throughout the year, US President Donald Trump’s administration has increased pressure on Pakistan to more robustly fight extremist groups. In August, Trump said the US could “no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organizations.” The US Congress also made a $255 million (£191 million) military assistance package subject to Islamabad improving counter-terror efforts. In late November, the commander of the US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan said Pakistan was still failing to prevent the Taliban leadership from receiving “sanctuary and support.”
In response to the increased US pressure, Pakistan, which denies having safe havens in its territory, reiterated that it was fighting terrorism efficiently. In November, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Islamabad’s fight against terrorism was “unmatched in the world.” Pakistan’s military wing asserted that the country had “done much more than its due share” to fight extremists and promote peace.
The release of Hafiz Saeed, whom Pakistan has freed and detained numerous times, inflamed this geopolitical discourse. Washington alleges Saeed masterminded the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and believes he holds links to Lashkar-e-Taiba. Increased US-Pakistani cooperation could help destroy powerful extremist groups. However, ongoing tensions and rifts could continue to strain this relationship, undermining effective counter-terror efforts.
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