Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2023. xi, 241 pp. US$95.00, cloth. ISBN 9781955055857.
In their book titled The Islamic State in Afghanistan and Pakistan: Strategic Alliances and Rivalries, authors Amira Jadoon and Andrew Mines carefully analyze the emergence, development, and influence of the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The authors provide a thorough examination of the complex network of alliances and rivalries of the Islamic State Khorasan (ISK) in the militant and extremist landscape in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Through detailed research and thoughtful analysis, the book presents a nuanced perspective on the organization’s growth, its interactions with local players, and its effects on regional security dynamics.
Additionally, Jadoon and Mines show a strong grasp of primary sources and fieldwork, offering readers valuable insights from interviews, interactions with counterterrorism experts and scholars, ISK literature and correspondence, archival research, and on-the-ground collaborators to create a detailed and evidence-based analysis. This solid empirical basis not only boosts the credibility of their work but also gives readers a plethora of empirical data to enhance their comprehension of the topic. Their book is a significant addition to the knowledge of the group’s beginnings, tracing its evolution from its Al-Qaeda origins to its eventual division and transformation into a stand-alone entity with territorial goals. The authors extensively analyze how the ISK has established itself in the region, looking into its recruitment tactics, beliefs, and structure.
The book effectively delves into the intricate web of alliances and rivalries that define the ISK’s engagements with other militant groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The authors uncover the various reasons behind these partnerships, from common beliefs to practical considerations of strength, assets, and access. Jadoon and Mines thoroughly examine the strategic, operational, and tactical partnerships formed by the ISK with local Pakistani Taliban factions and other militant organizations, along with its conflicts with competing insurgent and extremist groups like the Afghan Taliban and Al-Qaeda. This method provides readers with a detailed comprehension of the ISK’s operations, its effects on security in the region, and emphasizes the changing alliances and flexible dynamics that characterize the jihadist environment in the area. Additionally, the book gives the reader a comprehensive understanding of the group’s formation, rise, internal growth, leadership contestations, and struggles, especially as it competes in a region densely populated with other extremist groups with longer histories, significant global profiles, and territorial control. The ISK’s continued resiliency, growth, and impact in broader South Asia remains a key security threat and growing preoccupation in Pakistan, as the book documents.
Jadoon and Mines use clear and engaging prose instead of technical terms to make their writing easier to understand. They also include maps, charts, and diagrams to help illustrate key ideas and aid in visualizing concepts and dynamics. This helps readers navigate the intricate terrain of jihadist politics in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The book is well organized and easy to read, making it accessible to scholars, policy makers, journalists, and anyone interested in learning about terrorism and insurgency in South Asia.
Although the book has several strengths, it leaves some questions unanswered. There is a lack of in-depth discussion on the socio-economic factors that contribute to the emergence of the ISK in Afghanistan and Pakistan, its connections to other Islamic State (IS) provinces or chapters in neighbouring areas like the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Yemen, North Caucuses, and more broadly in South Asia, particularly the aspiring chapter in Bangladesh. The book offers a detailed look at the ISK’s alliances and rivalries, but could have been richer by focusing more on the influence of external actors like neighbouring states, regional sponsors, and global powers in shaping the conflict. A deeper dive into the impact of the ISK on regional security and stability would have been beneficial. One intriguing topic for further exploration is the ISK’s external operations capabilities, particularly in India, Central Asia, and potential connections in China.
In summary, the book The Islamic State in Afghanistan and Pakistan: Strategic Alliances and Rivalries makes a significant impact on the study of terrorism, insurgency, and regional security. Jadoon and Mines provide valuable insights into jihadist politics in South Asia, particularly through their primary research and empirical analysis on the ISK. The authors address the crucial question of the ISK’s resilience and persistence with depth and ease of understanding. Despite the decline of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Afghanistan-Pakistan chapter of the Islamic State continues to be active. The book focuses on the growth of the ISK, counter-terrorism pressures, decline, and the resilience within the context of alliances and rivalries. It provides insight into where the Islamic State (IS) stands as a militant brand, helping to understand its ongoing growth and challenges in neighbouring regions such as India, Central Asia, and Bangladesh, and how the attack strategies develop. The authors must be commended for illustrating how the ISK has localized a transnational jihadist movement in Afghanistan-Pakistan and established a sustainable support base to navigate a difficult environment.
*The views expressed in this review reflect those of the author and not the Government of Canada.
Jawad Hussain Qureshi
The University of British Columbia, Vancouver