ISIS and Taliban are operating with similar ideology in Afghanistan

The Chief Executive of the Government of National Unity Abdullah Abdullah says the Taliban and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group offshoot militants are conducting insurgency with a similar ideology, insisting that there is no difference between the two groups.

Speaking to reporters in a gathering hosted by VOA’s Afghanistan service, Abdullah said there is not much difference between the groups and both continue to incur losses to the Afghan people.

However, CEO Abdullah said the ISIS loyalists do not operate on large swathes of Afghanistan but the Taliban continue to operate in more provinces.

In other parts of his speech, Abdullah said the relations between Kabul and Islamabad remains strained, mainly due to the circumstances surrounding the fight against terror and the presence of terror sanctuaries.

According to Abdullah, the terrorists continue to maintain presence and safe havens on the side of the line in Pakistan which is one of the main reasons behind the deteriorating relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

He also added that the new US strategy for South Asia delivers a clear message to the region and those supporting the terror groups.

Abdullah said the government is optimistic regarding the environment of cooperation further boosted between the Afghan and foreign forces in the fight against terror after the new strategy was unveiled.

In regards to the India’s role in Afghanistan, Abdullah said the Afghan government supports Washington’s call to further increase New Delhi’s role in Afghanistan, insisting that the country has invested more than 2 billion Dollars in reconstruction of Afghanistan in the past 16 years.

Source: Khaama