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KABUL – Pakistani authorities say they arrested two suspected would-be suicide bombers associated with the Islamic State group’s regional affiliate, Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K). The operation, described as “intelligence-based,” took place near Peshawar, the capital of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The provincial counterterrorism department revealed that the detained individuals are believed to be members of Daesh Khorasan, a local acronym for IS-K, and had received training at a facility for suicide bombers in the eastern Afghan border province of Paktia. The raid resulted in the confiscation of two suicide vests, multiple hand grenades, and a pistol. According to official statements, the suspects were allegedly planning to target regional Pakistani politicians.
IS-K has been known for carrying out and claiming attacks in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, with a focus on civilians and security forces. The United States, recognizing IS-K as a significant regional and global threat, has voiced ongoing concerns about the group’s capabilities and intentions.
Thomas West, the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, reiterated these concerns during a recent congressional hearing, emphasizing that ISIS-K poses a clear intent to launch external attacks. He stated, “ISIS-K harbors clear intent to launch external attacks, and we monitor their capabilities and planning vigilantly.”
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, IS-K has intensified its violent campaign, targeting minority Afghan Shiite Muslims and the Taliban itself. Despite claims by the Taliban that they have significantly weakened IS-K, the group continues to pose a threat, challenging assertions that it is no longer a concern within Afghanistan or beyond.
