FLASH
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In the summer of 2023 he was reported killed in Kunar, but the Taliban are convinced he is still in command, possibly hiding in Pakistani territory...
When Sanaullah Ghafari took over the leadership of the Islamic State-Khorasan, he was very little known. There was uncertainty about his origins, even his true identity. It was the summer of 2020. It didn't take long for him to become famous through deadly attacks.
Historians of extremism explain that Ghafari, born in 1994, grew up in Kabul, where he studied engineering, a discipline that attracted many Qaedism cadres. But his life took a different path and he became a member of a security apparatus, a job that later drew suspicion from the Taliban. It is easy to present him as an "agent" of the republican government. In reality, these overlaps are not uncommon. The current head of Al Qaeda, the Egyptian Seif al Adel, served in an elite corps and so did other followers of the holy war. Experiences in uniform were made available to "brothers", with great advantages for organizations looking for experts, bad teachers, manipulators.
Ghafari, even before taking the reins, had relationships with different ends of fundamentalism on the chessboard. We are talking about realities limited to the same areas, perhaps with the same supply channels. They are fluid, pragmatic relationships, they arise and disappear depending on the moment. It is the moment when "soldier Sanaullah" would have shared moments with the notorious Haqqani clan, the most radical wing of the Taliban, based in the Kandahar region, adept at building contacts with anyone who can bring them income, known for games with the intelligence of the region.
However, the Taliban have become the closest opponent of "Khorasan", where many dissidents have flocked. Known as "emir", Ghafari placed the emphasis of the war on intense attacks, bombings and assassinations. This is to expand the ranks and present an alternative program for the disaffected among the mullahs. Domestic propaganda referred to him as "a lion", emphasizing his ability to carry out activities within cities. And the idea of taking the war to population centers, targeting embassies, hotels and institutions, proved effective. The Islamic State saw many of its "officers" die.
In early April 2023, he released an audio to honor the "martyrdom" of several leaders, reiterating his desire to move forward. In fact, according to rumors derived from the investigations, Khorasan planned the new challenge in the middle of last year with several moves. Registration and recruitment of Mujahideen in the former Soviet republics, especially Tajikistan. Infiltration of collaborators in Europe. Growing supporters in Turkey. Sending money through couriers and money changers. Communication with web platforms. Placing guides in states close to the targets, i.e. men who give orders or simply "advise" and then leave followers autonomy on how to carry out the attack.
Ghafari's image as a major enemy has been enhanced, a "hallowed" position and by the US$10 million bounty offered by the US on his head. In the summer of 2023 he was reported killed in Kunar, but the Taliban believe he is still in command, possibly hiding in Pakistani territory or in restive Baluchistan. A UN report published in January confirmed the essence of these analyses: it is the "emir" who leads the death dance of a network with endless ambitions. / Pamphlet
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