Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The US Institute for Peace has published an analytical report on the strengthening of the role of the branch of the terrorist organization ISIS in Afghanistan, Vilayat Khorasan (VK).

The US Institute for Peace is an independent institution established and funded by the US Congress in 1984. Its activities are aimed at preventing and resolving conflicts, maintaining peace and stability.

The authors of the report argue that the Afghan authorities and security forces view Vilayat Khorasan as an “imported” group that can be defeated by military means. However, its ranks are increasingly replenished with Afghan youth. It is noted that, unlike other groups, VK cells recruit urban youth from middle-class families, many of whom did not receive traditional education in Pashtun schools.

At the same time, the analysis of the document allows us to highlight the following main points:

- the emergence of the "Vilayat Khorasan" grouping and its strengthening. The authors of the report associate the emergence of this organization and the expansion of its ranks with the Afghan Salafi ulema, who for decades before the emergence of ISIS actively disseminated the ideas of this trend. After the announcement in 2015 by the leaders of ISIS about the creation of their "branch" on the territory of Afghanistan, the Salafi ulama swore allegiance to ISIS and became the leaders of the VK cells. At the same time, having previously had their own audience, they quickly began to attract young Afghans into the ranks of the new group;

Vilayat Khorasan is a branch of the Islamic State terrorist group operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan. ISIS announced the formation of a new province in January 2015.

- "extraordinary" recruiting activity. According to the report, the main targets of VK recruitment are young people aged 19 to 35 from Kabul and the surrounding area. It is noteworthy that the overwhelming majority of the surveyed members of the VK do not experience financial difficulties and have a higher education or study in prestigious universities of Afghanistan.

Moreover, the problem of radicalization is acute in the capital’s higher educational institutions, and student dormitories have become a "recruiting base" for "Vilayat Khorasan";

- attraction of women to commit terrorist acts. It is reported that VK actively uses women for their own purposes. Recruited girls and married women are mainly attracted to recruiting activities. In particular, women recruit men on social media and indoctrinate their husbands and close relatives. In addition, they participate in the organization and commission of terrorist acts on the territory of Afghanistan;

- the attractive side of "Vilayat Khorasan" for the urban youth of Afghanistan. The report contains 7 features of the ideology of VK that attract the interest of urban youth. Chief among them is ideological superiority.

VK proposes for young people dissatisfied with the political system and the elite to build a "true" Islamic state, in which there will be "purified Islam". The claim to a pure understanding of Islam gives its adherents a sense of the uniqueness of their struggle. Another advantage is the social and ethnic equality of members and leaders of the organization;

- the marginalization of conservatives as the main reason for the radicalization of society. According to the authors of the report, the conservative part of the population (Salafi ulema and their followers), who until 2001 had their voice in the political life of the country, is almost completely cut off from the government. Political isolation is forcing them into armed jihad.

In general, according to the US Institute for Peace, the Afghan authorities, including their Western donors are implementing the wrong strategy for combating VK. It is noted that physical elimination of her followers alone cannot solve the problem. The report provides the following recommendations to achieve this goal:

1) promoting political dialogue with religious conservatives;

2) supporting young people and creating opportunities for them to independently identify alternative ideas;

3) encouraging the ulema who adhere to a more moderate Islam, as well as creating a platform for constructive dialogue with extremist ulema.