Daesh in Afghanistan: A Real Threat? DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18847/1.4.7

Abstract

When in the second half of 2014 reports about the presence of Daesh in Afghanistan were received, many feared that it was the beginning of a radical change in the Afghan conflict that, by this way, could internationalize and radicalize. Firstly, the article identifies what has been the presence of Daesh in Afghanistan and if it is real, analyzing the available information about it and, afterwards, assessing the level of liability in order to identify what are the weakness and strongholds of the Salafist group as they assume a relevant role in the Afghan conflict. It underlies those factors that are making difficult its support among Afghans and stopping its collaboration with other insurgents groups, particularly with the Taliban. For this purpose, the relationships between this groups and Taliban is analyzing, underlying the purposes that not only have done impossible the collaboration between both insurgent groups, but those have taken to an open army struggle between them. Finally, an assessment about the future of Daesh in Afghanistan is done, assessing the probability of becoming a real threat for the stabilization of the country.