Taliban in power may find themselves fighting their own insurgents

[Ramsey Barner]

Analysis: new regime may face enemy composed not of fighters loyal to former US-backed government but those who see new rulers as sellouts

[snip]

Most concerning is probably the complex mix of Pakistani factions based in eastern Afghanistan. These are almost entirely focused on fighting local battles, but the TTP, or Pakistani Taliban, have a long history of brutal violence. So too have other extremist groups that have migrated from Pakistan across the border.

All these groups follow the extremist ideology known to analysts as “jihadi Salafism”, a fusion of ultra-conservative strands of Sunni Islam practised in the Gulf with a newer and radical belief that it is the duty of every Muslim to fight individually as well as collectively against “tyranny”, wherever it is found. This kind of thinking contrasts dramatically with the old folk traditions of Islamic observance in Afghanistan and even with the reactionary schools followed by the Taliban. Observers say the success of Isis in Syria and Iraq, even if the caliphate ended in blood and failure, have inspired some younger Afghans, spreading jihadi Salafism further.

If so, the Taliban in power may find themselves fighting their own insurgents, composed not of those loyal to the former US-backed government but those who see their new rulers as sellouts.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/18/bidens-over-the-horizon-counter-terrorism-strategy-comes-with-new-risks

[marble falls]

1. And that would surprise who??? They've been fighting each other for decades.

[Texaswitchy]

2. Centuries.

The women educated could have changed the country.

Not going to happen now

[marble falls]

3. The Taliban has been fighting itself for only decades. Educating women under the Shah didn't ...

... help a bit once the mullahs took over in Iran.

Three quarters of the Afghan people are uneducated except for Madrassas, hope for the educated to change Afghanistan was a great goal. All we did was enrich further the upper class from graft. We educated precious few, who were subject to attack from religious fanatics on the streets.

[Texaswitchy]

4. I mean over time.

This country once was more modern.

In the cities.

I have seen pictures of women wearing modern clothes.

The country people were a lost cause.

[Lovie777]

5. There will be infighting . ...

no doubt on that.

COVID illness and deaths also.

[empedocles]

6. Fitting

[Texaswitchy]

7. Called king of the mountain.

We played the game as kids.

Get a sand or dirt pile and fight to stay on the top.