AOPNEWS | November 14, 2015

The rivalry between DAESH (ISIS) and the Taliban have recently intensified, not just on the battle field, but on the internet as well. The Taliban faction loyal to Mullah Mansoor posted on its website Friday that DAESH is being used by the Americans “to create [a] split among Sunnis and Shiites”. “They [Americans] are fanning to the flames of internal seditions and fighting”.

To many analysts, this new verbal attack by the the Taliban seems rather odd, as both groups are known for their hatred of Shiites. During Taliban rule, Afghanistan’s Shiites were systematically killed. In fact, in January 2001, 300 were massacred in Yakawolang, a small town in the central Hazarajat region of Afghanistan.

Taliban commanders have repeatedly in the past referred to Shias as unbelievers, or not true Muslims. ISIS also holds a similar view; they have killed numerous Shiites in Iraq and Syria.