Senior Unit Leader of the Jihadist Organization Islamic State (IS) V Afghanistanwho allegedly orchestrated the deadly attacks in Kabul was killed yesterday Sunday in the Afghan capital by security forces Talibansaid a spokesman for the de facto government.

Qari Fateh, who is responsible for “espionage and operations” by the Islamic State of Khorasan (IS), was killed on Sunday by Taliban security forces, their regime spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement released on Monday.

“He is directly responsible for the recent attacks carried out in Kabul, especially against diplomatic missions, mosques and other facilities,” he added.

According to a Taliban spokesman, Kari Fateh, whose nationality is unknown, was killed along with another IS member in the Kabul district of Khair Khana.

De facto government officials uploaded photos on Twitter showing two bodies lying under the rubble.

A UN Security Council report released in July 2022 reaffirmed the role of Kari Fateh, naming him as one of the main leaders of the ICC, responsible for the organization’s operations in a vast area stretching from India to Iran and Central Asia.

Deep hatred between Taliban and IKK

ISIS, which has stepped up its attacks on foreigners, religious minorities and de facto government institutions, is generally seen as the biggest threat to the Taliban regime since the armed Sunni fundamentalist movement regained power in Afghanistan in August 2021.

While the ideological identity of the two organizations has much in common, they also have chaotic differences: the IKK seeks to establish a global “caliphate”, while the Taliban’s ambitions are to rule an independent “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”. Their relationship is characterized by deep hatred.

The IKK claimed responsibility for the December 12, 2022 attack on a Kabul hotel frequented by Chinese businessmen. Five Chinese citizens were injured in the attack.

That same month, the group claimed responsibility for the attack on the Pakistani embassy in Kabul.

In January, a suicide bombing near the de facto government’s Foreign Office in Kabul, at the time claimed responsibility by IS, killed at least 10 people and injured 53 others.

In September, two employees of the Russian embassy were killed by an ISIS suicide bomber.

In recent months, Taliban forces have launched raids against IS hideouts in Kabul, killing or capturing many of its members.

^{Source: APE-MEB, AFP.}