Drivers of ISKP Recruitment in Afghanistan

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The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has proved to be remarkably resilient despite international and Taliban government efforts to destroy it. The group’s ability to adapt its recruitment strategies and maintain a decentralised operational structure has allowed it to navigate the challenges posed by the Taliban’s crackdown with a certain degree of success. An integrated understanding of the diverse motivations and pathways leading individuals to joining ISKP in Afghanistan, and the local dynamics influencing its operations, is crucial to understanding the group’s resilience.

This paper, drawing on over 131 qualitative interviews with both former and current ISKP members, supporters and sympathisers, as well as family and associates, offers an in-depth analysis of ISKP’s recruitment strategies, the varied experiences of its members, and the group’s operational dynamics across Afghanistan. By leveraging original qualitative data and conducting a comparative subnational analysis, this study provides unique insights into the narratives and pathways driving individuals towards ISKP, highlighting the group’s complex fabric of membership and support.