Daesh in Afghanistan

The emergence of a radically-new political force in Afghanistan is not often a development to celebrate. In recent decades, such developments have typically occurred in the context of major political and social dislocation, which rarely provides an environment in which toleration, measured judgment and moderation are likely to flourish. Nevertheless, from an analytical point of view it may be important to try to pin down as soon as possible both the historical roots and the ideological dimensions of a new force. Some groups will fizzle and sputter, but others will prove more durable, as did the Taliban - albeit with crucial external hospitality from Pakistan, which continues to this day