The Islamic State-Khorasan’s Recent Reorganization and Remaining Threat for Central Asia in 2024

Abstract

The self-proclaimed Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was defeated in 2019 but today there are still some branches of the organization active in various parts of the world. For a long time ISIS functioned as a state (a self-proclaimed caliphate) with its territory, governance, and bureaucracy although it was not recognized on an international level. The main research question is what makes ISIS (as being an unrecognized state) a challenge for international and regional security today. This presentation refers to the first question in the workshop regarding how continuities, changes and/or transformations are expressed in the practice of terrorism. ISIS is not functioning anymore as a state but has autonomous local affiliates around the world. This is also related to the implications of borders, spaces and territorialities on the fight against terrorism. The report looks more specifically at the activities of the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISK or ISKP) in Central Asia and particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Its strategy on a regional and international level comprises interlinked media warfare and kinetic action. The military and political pressures have caused it to restructure or face a more lasting attenuation. Although it is now reorganizing, it still presents a danger in Central Asia. The very recent example is the attack in Iran from January 3. The author provides some future recommendations on how the international community should address the current risks presented by ISK in particular.