Following the March 22, 2024 attack on the Crocus City Hall music venue in Moscow, in which an estimated 137 people were killed and for which the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility, major Urdu-language and English-language dailies in Pakistan published editorials arguing that both the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, i.e., the Afghan Taliban) and the Islamic State Khurasan Province (ISKP), are threats to international peace. At least one editorial also noted that ISIS was selectively targeting the enemies of America.
Roznama Nawa-i-Waqt, an Urdu-language daily, published an editorial titled, "The Islamic State And The Taliban – A Threat To International Peace," arguing that the Islamic Emirate and ISIS both share the same ideological goals. It observed: " These organizations used to work together. Sometimes, there were differences between them, and sometimes they fought each other."
An editorial titled, "The Bloody Terrorism In Russia," in Urdu newspaper Roznama Jang read: "The foundational structure of the Islamic State is present in Afghanistan in the name of ISIS Khurasan [ISKP]. It has close relationships with different terrorist and militarist groups, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)."
Dawn, a liberal English-language daily, published an editorial titled "Moscow Carnage" warning that ISIS is expanding its scope of operations. "Now that the Syrian front is largely quiet, these militants, under the ISKP flag, may have decided to take their fight to Russia proper to avenge their defeat," it stated.
In its editorial titled, "ISIS Strikes Again," The Nation daily blamed America for creating terrorist groups like ISIS in regions under its control, stating: "The U.S.'s control and dominance in the Middle East, particularly in areas where ISIS was born, has provided the perfect breeding ground for extremism to flourish, and this influence cannot simply be swept under the rug."
One reason most Pakistani newspapers view both the IEA and ISKP as threats to regional and international peace is that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) enjoys some degree of support from the IEA as TTP executes attacks regularly from its bases in Afghanistan into the Pakistani tribal region.
A screenshot of the editorial in Roznama Nawa-i-Waqt.
Following are translations of excerpts from the Roznama Nawa-i-Waqt editorial:[1]
"The Ineffectiveness Of The United Nations And Its Being A [Western] Puppet Has Led To Terrorist Countries Like Afghanistan, Israel, And India Becoming A Threat To Regional And International Peace"
"In the Russian capital of Moscow, four armed men opened fire during a concert. The firing killed... [137] people and injured more than 100. The Islamic State, in a message on the social media network Telegram, has claimed responsibility for this attack."
The editorial continued: "In Afghanistan, the current Taliban government has been a serious threat to regional peace, and the Islamic State a threat to international peace. At some point, these organizations used to work together. Sometimes, there were differences between them, and sometimes they fought each other. Afghanistan is among those countries where the Islamic State has its strongholds.
"Both these organizations have, more or less, the same objectives. The Islamic State, especially, wants to achieve its goals using terrorism. It is engaged in efforts for the enforcement of shari'a in its own version at an international level. In addition to neighboring countries, Afghan soil is also becoming a source of destruction for international peace. At the behest of India, terrorism is carried out in Pakistan from Afghanistan.
"Despite the fence, the Pakistan-Afghan border has become unsafe due to firing every other day. If the Taliban government wants, it can remove the Islamic State from Afghanistan. Only a peaceful Afghanistan can guarantee regional and international peace. But it is not possible while the Taliban continue to follow the same ideas that they are pursuing, and the Islamic State continues to execute its actions freely throughout Afghanistan to Russia.
"The ineffectiveness of the United Nations and it being a [Western] puppet has led to terrorist countries like Afghanistan, Israel, and India becoming a threat to regional and international peace. And the Islamic State is also safe from actions against it. If their hands are not stopped, then the destruction of the earth will be the responsibility of the international institutions and powers."
SUPPORT OUR WORK
Following are translations of excerpts from the Roznama Jang editorial:[2]
"The Islamic State... Wants To Establish The Islamic Caliphate System In Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, And Iran, In Addition To The Middle East; It Is Also Active In Europe, The Philippines, And Sri Lanka"
"The curse of terrorism, which caused the most damage to Pakistan, has also captured other countries of the world in its fold. A bloody incident in this series occurred in the Russian capital of Moscow on Friday, where the Islamic State's masked fighters, armed with automatic weapons, entered a music concert organized in the Crocus City Hall, part of the city's shopping center, and opened fire indiscriminately. During this indiscriminate firing, they killed 115 spectators.
"According to a report by the Russian news agency, Tass, more than 150 people were also injured. In Russia, this attack is the first of its kind. American intelligence had warned Russia of an attack in advance. A stampede followed the firing in the Hall, and people, crying and calling for help, ran toward the exit gate and became the target of bullets. In seconds, bodies fell one over the other. A fire had also started in the building. To douse it, helicopters and ambulances were called.
"The Islamic State, which began in Iraq and Syria, wants to establish the Islamic system of Caliphate in Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran, in addition to the Middle East. It is also active in Europe, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The foundational structure of the Islamic State is present in Afghanistan in the name of ISIS Khurasan [Islamic State Khurasan Province, or ISKP]. It has close relationships with different terrorist and militarist groups, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
"The incident in Moscow has shaken the entire world, and security arrangements are being strengthened. Pakistan should also be more cautious than ever before, because terrorist attacks in Pakistan have increased from the land of Afghanistan."
Following are excerpts from the original English of the Dawn editorial:[3]
"While The "Original" ISIS May Have Been Largely Defeated In The Battlefields Of Iraq And Syria, ISKP Is Proving Itself To Be A "Worthy" Successor To Its Parent Outfit's Blood-Soaked Legacy..."
"While the 'original' ISIS may have been largely defeated in the battlefields of Iraq and Syria, ISKP is proving itself to be a 'worthy' successor to its parent outfit's blood-soaked legacy...
"ISKP, believed to be operating out of Afghanistan, has been slowly building its profile. It has staged several attacks in Afghanistan as well as Pakistan. In January, it bombed the commemoration ceremony of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Kerman [of Iran], causing a high number of fatalities.
"With the Moscow attack, the terrorist group seems to be expanding its geographical scope. Russia had in decades past dealt with religiously inspired militancy, including in Chechnya and Dagestan. In more recent times, Vladimir Putin's forces intervened to turn the tide in favor of Syrian forces fighting both their political opponents and jihadists.
The editorial in Roznama Jang.
"Moreover, thousands of Russian – Chechens and others – jihadists had fought against Bashar Al-Assad's regime during the Syrian civil war. Now that the Syrian front is largely quiet, these militants, under the ISKP flag, may have decided to take their fight to Russia to avenge their defeat.
"Just as it took a multinational effort to defeat ISIS, a similar endeavor will be needed to destroy ISKP before it spreads its deadly wings any further. This will require the international community to closely coordinate with the Afghan Taliban, whom ISKP opposes. Afghanistan, and those states that border it, particularly Pakistan, need to be in the forefront of the fight against the Khurasan faction [ISKP], as these countries are the most vulnerable to ISKP's bloody forays. Iran, the Central Asian states, China, and Russia should also be on board to contain the regional threat and neutralise it.
"Moreover, the [Afghan] Taliban need to understand that letting militants operate on their soil – including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terrorists – will jeopardise the security of their own country, as well as that of the greater region..."
Following are excerpts from the original English of the editorial in The Nation:[4]
"Even Though ISIS May Have Pulled The Trigger Here [In Moscow], It Is Clear That NATO Has Blood On Its Hands For This Affair As Well"
"Even though ISIS may have pulled the trigger here [in Moscow], it is clear that NATO has blood on its hands for this affair as well. Even though the U.S. is the first to lay the blame on ISIS for these attacks and absolve itself, these atrocities are a direct result of decades of reckless interventionism by America.
"The U.S.'s control and dominance in the Middle East, particularly in areas where the ISIS was birthed, has provided the perfect breeding ground for extremism to flourish, and this influence cannot simply be brushed under the carpet.
"The U.S. still controls a third of Syria, has a network of bases in Iraq, and has essentially been an architect of instability in these countries along with Libya. Even the birth of the Khurasan affiliation of ISIS, which was responsible for the latest attack, originated in Afghanistan and is a direct consequence of America's destructive foreign policies."
"Another Peculiarity Of This Attack On Russia Is That It Is Yet Another Attack By ISIS On An Enemy Of The United States; The Most Recent Target Before This Was Iran In January Earlier This Year"
"Another peculiarity of this attack on Russia is that it is yet another attack by ISIS on an enemy of the United States. The most recent target before this was Iran, in January earlier this year. The set of countries that have been most recently targeted by ISIS, namely Iran, Afghanistan, and even Pakistan, show that there is an observable pattern of events here, and may give global entities a clue about who may be ISIS's next target.
"Nevertheless, if there is a global game of power underlying these attacks, it must not remain unchecked. As the world grapples with another act of terror, it may be time for some soul-searching in Washington as well. The U.S. cannot simply pretend to be an innocent bystander in all of this, as their actions have continually fanned [the] flames of extremism.
"Meaningful change will come with a reassessment of the role the U.S. plays outside its borders, and the victims of these attacks deserve some level of accountability from all those involved in the creation of these circumstances."
