Islamic Caucasus Emirate

Taliban confirms meeting with US delegation in Doha

The Taliban says its representatives met with an American delegation in Doha on Oct. 12. The group says that members of the "Political Office" of the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" stressed that the "presence of foreign forces" is "the greatest obstacle obstructing true peace and solving problems." The Taliban's overall leader previously blessed "direct dialogue" with the Americans, so long as the talks focused on an American withdrawal. Read more →

Analysis: Taliban will halt attacks on Afghan government for 3 days

The Taliban has announced that it will refrain from offensive operations against the Afghan government for three days during the Eid holiday. However, this is a shorter timeframe than the Afghan government's announced ceasefire. And the jihadists say they will continue to attack the "foreign occupiers," meaning the US and allied forces, during this brief respite. The Taliban also does not say it will participate in meaningful peace talks with the Afghan government. Read more →

US must retreat from Afghanistan for there to be ‘peace’, Taliban leader says

The Taliban released a statement attributed to its emir, Hibatullah Akhundzada, who says that "peace" is only possible if the "occupation" is ended. The statement is entirely self-serving and contains absurd claims. For example, Akhundzada writes that the Taliban wants a "free, independent and progressive Afghanistan," which is completely inconsistent with the group's ideology and history. Read more →

AQIS emphasizes allegiance to Ayman al Zawahiri, Taliban in new ‘code of conduct’

Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) has released a 20-page code of conduct outlining its approach to waging jihad throughout the region. The group says its men are currently fighting "shoulder-to-shoulder" with the Taliban and calls on Muslims in the surrounding countries to pledge allegiance to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (another name for the Taliban). Read more →

Ex-Gitmo detainee, Islamic State’s leader in Chechnya designated by State Department

The State Department has added a former Guantanamo detainee, Ayrat Nasimovich Vakhitov, to the US government's list of designated terrorists. According to press reports, Vakhitov was recently arrested in connection with the terrorist attack at Istanbul's Ataturk airport. Also designated today is Aslan Avgazarovich Byutukaev, who leads the Islamic State's forces in Chechnya. Read more →