ISIS ideology is starting to spread in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Yahoo/Reuters

ISIS fighters in Syria. Yahoo/Reuters.

ISIS ideology is spreading in Pakistan and Afghanistan after radical disillusionment with the Taliban. Yahoo/Reuters. Commanders, frustrated with the leadership of the Taliban, and convinced of the possibility that leader Mullah Omar is dead, are looking to ISIS for inspiration. These commanders are impressed at the massive success that ISIS had last year in taking territory in Iraq and Syria. These commanders are united under the so called Khoroson chapter of ISIS. The group appears to have no direct connection to ISIS but are inspired by the organization. In Helmand province, a local commander has gathered 100 fighters, though they have been involved in little fighting. In Pakistan, a soldier was decapitated on video, clearly inspired by ISIS propaganda tactics. 

My Comment:

This is mixed news. On the one had if ISIS gains a foothold in Afghanistan and Pakistan that means there is small possibility that the victories in Iraq and Syria could happen there as well. That doesn't seem too likely but it isn't impossible. On the other hand this means that both the Taliban and Al-Qaeda will have another rival organization to fight with. If the Taliban has to fight ISIS it will make it easier for Afghan and Pakistan security forces to fight them. That's probably good news.

Still, it is disturbing that people are being inspired by ISIS. The fact that decapitation videos are spreading are especially disturbing. As a propaganda move, it is fairly effective. It makes your group look powerful and horrifying while at the same time it inspires new recruits and supporters. People might be less willing to fight if they think they will be executed in a horrible fashion. Of course the other side of that is that people who are already fighting might fight harder just to avoid capture. 

As for the spread of ISIS it just goes to show that the fight against radical Islam is, for all intents and purposes, a global one. It seems that almost all countries with a significant Muslim minority are at risk for attacks inspired by this ideology. Radical Islam spreads like a virus and millions of people are getting exposed to it. Expect more cells and affiliate organizations for both ISIS and Al-Qaeda to rise up.