Daesh in Afghanistan could trigger proxy war

Russia's attacks in Syria could also consolidate Daesh positions in Afghanistan. The former Soviet Union's invasion of the country in 1979 gave rise to modern terror.

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Published: Thu 15 Oct 2015, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Thu 15 Oct 2015, 10:33 AM

Afghanistan will be in Daesh's grip if the US fully withdraws from the country next year. America does not have combat missions in the country, but Nato is left with 17,000 counter-terror special forces, including 9,000 American troops, whose mission might be extended by President Obama following the recent spurt in violence.
The Taleban are fast spreading out into the country. They recently captured Kunduz, before being driven out by Nato forces. It was the strongest comeback by the group in 14 years.
But what concerns Washington and the world is that Daesh's ideology and money are attracting Taleban members. The group is flush with cash and is luring Taleban fighters, who are out to make a fast buck. The Obama administration, therefore, wants to remain engaged in the country because it understands how brittle the gains of the campaign has been so far.
Disparate terror groups are not averse to coming under the brutal banner of Daesh, which has grand plans on forming a state. They imagine an empire stretching all the way from Syria to South Asia. Turkey has already been wracked by blasts claimed by the group, who have major plans to go further east.
In Afghanistan, the group has the best conditions to thrive. The terrain is rough, tribal loyalties matter, Afghan forces are not battle-ready and the central government in Kabul depends on a reluctant foreign force to keep the peace.
Terror networks run by Al Qaeda and the Taleban are already well extrenched and the group finds it easy to engineer defections because they have money flowing from the illegal sales of oil and antiquities in Iraq and Syria. Cash is fast changing hands and some reports say $500 is all it takes to get a Taleban fighter switch loyalties to Daesh.
Russia's attacks in Syria could also consolidate Daesh positions in Afghanistan. The former Soviet Union's invasion of the country in 1979 gave rise to modern terror.
A proxy war was then waged in the country by the two superpowers - the USSR and the US. Conditions are ripe for a similar confrontation starting in Syria, with fears that it could spill over into Afghanistan. That's not a happy situation for world peace.


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