Iraqi citizen assigned to lead Islamic State’s Khorasan branch

An Iraqi citizen, Shahab al Muhajir, has been appointed as the new designated governor of Daesh’s Khorasan branch, according to an investigative report by BBC Urdu that says the group is seeking to mobilize its fighters in Afghanistan.

According to reports, Shahab al Muhajir was a commander of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and had plotted a recent attack on Nangarhar prison on August 3. The attack ended after almost 20 hours and left at least 30 people dead and 50 others wounded. Many Daesh fighters were imprisoned in the prison, according to officials.

The BBC report says that Daesh is trying to once again emerge from Nangarhar and Kunar provinces that share border areas with Pakistan.

“Daesh’s presence was ended recently in Nangarhar and in the eastern zone, but after the prison attack, people once again became concerned about activities of the group in the province,” said Obaidullah Shinwari, deputy head of Nangarhar Provincial Council.

“Th capacity that they are at is concerning for Afghans. The Afghan government should assess all dimensions of this project and it should share it with the government and take action against it,” said Kabul Jan Tadbir, a political affairs analyst.

According to the report, former governors of Daesh’s Khorasan branch who were from Afghanistan and Pakistan have failed in their activities, therefore Daesh has assigned an Iraqi national to this post.

“They want to recreate their formation and basics and resume their activities,” said Bismillah Afghanmal, former governor of Zabul.

“The people of Afghanistan are rarely providing the opportunity for Daesh and al-Qaeda terrorist groups; therefore, they have no option but to assign a foreign member. Meanwhile, foreigners are the main financer of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, particularly Daesh and al-Qaeda,” said Farogh Halim, an international affairs analyst.

On August 3, Acting Interior Affairs Minister Massoud Andarabi in a tweet said that Shahab Al Mujahir is a Haqqani member.

“Haqqani and the Taliban carry out their terrorism on a daily basis across Afghanistan and when their terrorist activities does not suit them politically, they rebrand it under ISKP (Daesh’s Khorasan Branch).”

Daesh sees Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and parts of Central Asia as the province of Khorasan.

Source: Tolo News