Taliban rift could swell Islamic State ranks

An emerging power struggle within the Afghan Taliban leadership could drive disgruntled fighters to join the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, which is already believed to have established a foothold in Afghanistan
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TALIBAN LEADERSHIP
Mullah Akhtar Mansoor (right)named leader in July after confirmed death of founder Mullah Omar.Mansoor seen as moderate who favours peace talks with government. Reputation boosted after his fighters briefly occupied northern city of Kunduz in September

Anti-Mansoor faction: Many Taliban commanders, including prominent dissident Mullah Abdul Qayyum Zakir, oppose peace process and are meeting to choose rival leader to Mansoor. Faction supported by Tayyab Agha, former head of Taliban political office in Qatar
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AFGHAN GOVERNMENT

President Ashraf Ghani (above right)pushing for negotiated settlement to 14-year insurgency, which has
escalated since withdrawal of NATO troops in 2014. Taliban rift could discourage Mansoor from continuing
with Pakistan-based talks
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Militant attack and support zones
April-October 6, 2015

Attack Support

TURKMEN-ISTAN AFGHANISTAN Herat IRAN Lashkar Gah  Ghazni Mazar-i- Sharif Kabul Kunduz PAKISTAN Kandahar Helmand province Reported power base of Mullah Zakir Nangarhar province District centres under Islamic State control TAJIKISTAN
200km 125 miles
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Source: Institute for the Study of War, wire agencies Pictures: Associated Press

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