Why Do the Taliban and ISIS Hate Each Other

Summary

The Taliban and ISIS are two Islamist extremist organizations with a shared goal of establishing states governed by their harsh interpretations of Sharia law. Despite both being rooted in Sunni Islam, their beliefs differ significantly, leading to continuous conflict between them. While the Taliban seeks a localized form of religious control in Afghanistan, ISIS aims for a global caliphate. The two groups' extreme interpretations of Islam have fueled violent battles since 2015, with ISIS-K, a faction aligned with ISIS, further exacerbating tensions. Despite setbacks, ISIS-K remains active, and the ongoing animosity between these factions continues to impact Afghanistan's stability.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Taliban and ISIS are both Islamist extremist organizations with similar goals of creating a state governed by their interpretations of Sharia law, but they have been in conflict since 2015.
• 😀 While both groups adhere to extreme versions of Sunni Islam, they follow different schools: the Taliban follow Deobandi Islam, while ISIS follows Wahhabi-Salafism.
• 😀 The Taliban originated in the 1990s during the Afghan Civil War, emerging from the Pashtun areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and their rise was influenced by the Mujahideen resistance against Soviet occupation.
• 😀 The Taliban rose to power by 1996, enforcing strict interpretations of Sharia law, and governed Afghanistan until 2001, when they were overthrown by a U.S.-led coalition after the 9/11 attacks.
• 😀 After the U.S. withdrawal in 2022, the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, reinstating their brutal policies and a regime that suppresses women’s rights and enforces strict social controls.
• 😀 ISIS, or the Islamic State, was formed from a branch of Sunni Islam known as Salafi jihadism, seeking to establish a global Islamic state. It became notorious for its violence in Iraq and Syria, particularly after 2014.
• 😀 ISIS-K is a regional affiliate of ISIS, operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan, consisting of former Taliban members and militants from Pakistan. ISIS-K is more extreme and hostile towards the Taliban, leading to violent conflicts between the two.
• 😀 The primary reason for the Taliban-ISIS conflict is the different interpretations of Islamic law. The Taliban’s Deobandi version of Sharia differs significantly from the more radical Wahhabi-Salafist interpretation followed by ISIS.
• 😀 Despite the Taliban’s larger following, ISIS continues to recruit defectors from the Taliban, especially those dissatisfied with Taliban leadership and battlefield setbacks.
• 😀 The conflict between the Taliban and ISIS involves varying tactics, with the Taliban employing guerrilla warfare, while ISIS operates with a more conventional military structure and uses social media for propaganda to recruit new members.

Q & A

What is the primary goal of both the Taliban and ISIS?

Both the Taliban and ISIS aim to create a state governed by a strict, conservative interpretation of Sharia law. They seek to enforce their own brutal versions of Islamic law through extreme violence.

Why do the Taliban and ISIS hate each other despite having similar goals?

While both groups are extremist branches of Islam, they differ in their interpretations of Sharia law. The Taliban follows a Deobandi branch of Sunni Islam, while ISIS adheres to a more extreme Wahhabi-Salafist tradition. This ideological difference has led to constant conflict between them.

How did the Taliban originate?

The Taliban originated in the early 1990s during the Afghan Civil War. It was formed by displaced Pashtun students who had been educated in Islamic schools in Pakistan. They were led by Mullah Mohammad Omar, a former Mujahadeen commander.

What was the role of the Mujahadeen in the formation of the Taliban?

The Mujahadeen were rebel fighters who opposed the Soviet-aligned Afghan government. After the Soviet withdrawal, the Mujahadeen fought against each other for power, leading to the rise of the Taliban, who aimed to restore order and peace in the country.

What led to the initial fall of the Taliban in 2001?

The Taliban’s rule over Afghanistan ended in December 2001 when a United States-led coalition invaded the country in retaliation for the 9/11 attacks, as the Taliban refused to extradite Osama bin Laden, who was hiding in Afghanistan.

What distinguishes the Taliban’s principles from those of Al-Qaeda?

The Taliban's goals are primarily localized, focused on controlling Afghanistan and enforcing their version of Sharia law there. In contrast, Al-Qaeda seeks to impose their interpretation of Islamic law on a global scale.

How does ISIS differ in its approach to governance compared to the Taliban?

While the Taliban follows a localized approach to governance, focusing on Afghanistan, ISIS, through its Wahhabi-Salafist ideology, aims to establish a global Islamic state, and its methods include more conventional military tactics and the use of social media for recruitment.

What is the role of ISIS-K in the conflict between the Taliban and ISIS?

ISIS-K, a self-proclaimed affiliate of ISIS, was formed in 2015 by militants from Pakistan and disgruntled former Taliban members. They operate primarily in northern and eastern Afghanistan and are hostile towards the Taliban, due to their more extreme interpretation of Islamic practices.

What is the significance of the Taliban’s use of guerrilla warfare?

The Taliban employs guerrilla warfare tactics, including ambushes and bombings, which make them difficult to defeat using conventional military strategies. Their tactics are influenced by the traditional methods of the Mujahadeen.

What are the differences in the recruitment tactics of ISIS and the Taliban?

ISIS has actively used social media platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and WhatsApp to recruit young people, particularly from overseas. In contrast, the Taliban largely relies on traditional methods of recruitment within their controlled regions.