IS declares Taliban ‘apostates’, dismisses Afghanistan takeover as 'delusional victory'

The Islamic State group has reportedly declared the Taliban to be "apostates" after the group took control of Afghanistan this week, as Al-Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula "congratulated" them in a statement on social media.

In the latest edition of their official weekly newspaper, Al-Naba, IS accused the Taliban of having implemented a "deficient" version of Islamic law during the previous era of their rule that fell between the years 1996 and 2001, Arabi21 reported.

IS dismissed the Taliban's apparent rise to power as one sealed by the 2020 Doha deal with former US President Trump, as well the group's diplomatic overtures to regional countries.

"The victory of Islam will not come via hotels in Qatar nor the embassies in Iran and China!! The victory signed and protected by the US and Qatar and its media, and hailed by Syria, Iran's scholars and the Muslim Brotherhood is delusional!” IS reportedly said in Al-Naba. 

IS also attacked Palestinian Islamist group Hamas for congratulating the Taliban and meeting with its leader Mullah Baradar.

The New Arab has not been able to independently verify the statements that Arabi21 reported.

In contrast, a statement purported to be from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and shared widely on social media congratulated the Taliban and all "mujahideen in the world" for their "blessed victory" in Afghanistan.

"Two decades of holy struggle, steadfastness and resolute fighting against the Christian West and global infidel forces is [a victory] crowned by complete control over Afghanistan and the defeat of America," the statement said.

AQAP claimed it was "the first of back-to-back victories, and the start of a pivotal change in modern history for the Muslim Ummah in the path of progress, sovereignty and breaking the chains of subservience and slavery."

Some officials in the West and regional countries fear the Taliban victory in Afghanistan may embolden transnational extremist groups like IS and Al-Qaeda to carry out attacks. Within Afghanistan, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) is likely to constitute a threat to the Taliban’s dominance.

But Dr Dawood Azami, an academic and award-winning journalist, told The New Arab on Wednesday that as the Taliban attempts to establish itself as a government, it will likely establish intelligence network to keep an eye on militant activity within their borders, especially concerning threats to Russia and China.