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ISKP’s new recruitment strategy:
Let’s pick Badal valley case study. Badal is a remote valley of Sawky district in Kunar prov, the valley was once home to 2BN/12 Reg. @4thInfDiv out of COP Badal. Force couldn’t survive because of its complex geography & human terrain.
[THREAD]
Let’s pick Badal valley case study. Badal is a remote valley of Sawky district in Kunar prov, the valley was once home to 2BN/12 Reg. @4thInfDiv out of COP Badal. Force couldn’t survive because of its complex geography & human terrain.
[THREAD]
People of Badal was traditional Hanafies, contributed a lot to the Taliban (see Linda Norgrove chaotic failed rescue ops in Sawky, Sep 2010) impossible to join ISKP - but now the village is known for ISKP mid level command & main contributor to ISKP force in eastern Afghanistan.
ISKP ceased this opportunity when Taliban leaders got stuck in peace talks with the US, most of the fighters either quit/not paid & were open to join another group. ISKP focused on Chapa Dara, Korengal & Badal. These areas never conquered by the US forces in past 19 yrs.
The mountainous Chapadara & Badal are toughest choices for military ops & almost all ops went terribly wrong. Since ISKP stronghold was destroyed in Nangarhar, the leadership spreaded into Chapa Dara & Badal to start recruiting force, while reshuffling the command.
The #1 reason why Taliban don’t agree to full ceasefire is obviously losing fighters & those who still want the job (after ceasefire) will immediately join ISKP. A leverage that Taliban won’t give it away until all demands are met. They figured that out during the Eid ceasefires.
Taliban fighters, group commanders in Badal & Chapa Dara were either force to flee, killed or recruited by ISKP. If ISKP builds its command in the area, it will be the toughest mission for US, Afghan army to eliminate. As of yesterday, ISKP killed handful of Talibs in Badal.
The Taliban has also largely shifted focus from remote districts to target killings in big cities to gain publicity & build false leverage. They also don’t claim responsibility for targeted ops anymore, to rebuild its image in public eyes, while pressuring the US, Afghan govts.
Importantly, as US, Afg govt walk the talk with Taliban, they must ensure a practical reintegration of fighters. As of now, not a single paper is drafted on reintegration, let alone an action. If you bring Taliban leaders to Kabul, leaving the combatants behind, that’s dangerous.
