Publication

This commentary assesses the threats posed by militant forces across Afghanistan as of December 2015. The authors specifically note that 1) Taliban factions and Wilayat Khorasan (the so-called Islamic State's putative Afghanistan-Pakistan affiliate) continue to control considerable amounts of territory, and 2) militant controlled areas now extend into numerous district centers. Given these truths, the authors conclude that Afghanistan's unity government will continue to face major internal threats, including the Afghan National Security Forces' (ANSF) limited ability to protect the state, and the Islamic State's efforts to recruit jihadists from the Taliban itself.