- Terrorists in Afghanistan posted message urging ISIS to calm down
- Said they should not 'distrust' other Muslims and avoid conflict
- ISIS has previously been disowned by al-Qaeda because of its extremism
- Warning came in a message urging a jihadist council to be formed
- ISIS, which has declared an Islamic 'Caliphate' state in Iraq, is gaining power
Published:
13:40 GMT, 12 July 2014
|
Updated:
13:42 GMT, 12 July 2014
Taliban
militants in Afghanistan have warned ISIS insurgents fighting in Iraq to
'avoid extremism' in a plea for unity among jihadists.
It
urged the Sunni faction, which has been waging a bloody insurgency
against Shi'ite Muslim groups in Iraq, to avoid 'distrusting' other
Islamist groups.
Commanders
of the al-Qaeda-linked group also pleaded with the fighters of ISIS,
which recently declared an Islamic 'Caliphate' in its captured
territory, to respect the rule of law.
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Warned: ISIS fighters (pictured parading through Raqqa in Syria) were told to 'avoid extremism' by members of the Afghan Taliban
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Fractious: The militant group was urged to join a council with other jihadist factions and not to 'distrust' them
ISIS
began life as an offshoot of al-Qaeda, but was disowned by the global
terror network after bolstering its strength by merging with other
groups in Syria.
The
call for unity was uploaded to the Afghan Taliban's website this week.
It did not name ISIS directly, but clearly referred to the group, who
are now thought to be the world's most powerful jihadists.
The
message, originally in Arabic, said: 'It is worthy for a shurah
(consultation) council to be formed from the leaders of all the jihadi
factions and the distinguished people among the experts and the scholars
in Sham (Syria) in order to solve their conflicts.'
'Muslims also should avoid extremism in religion, and judging others without evidence, and distrusting one another,' it said.
'They
should avoid conflict and dispute, and not think their opinions are
better than others. Mercy and compassion should prevail.'
On
June 29, ISIS announced that it had renamed itself the Islamic State
and proclaimed its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi their 'Caliph', or head
of state.
The
group had fallen out with al-Qaeda over its expansion into Syria, where
it has carried out beheadings, crucifixions, and mass executions.
In
recent weeks, ISIS has overrun the Iraqi city of Mosul and advanced
towards the capital Baghdad. In Syria they have captured territory in
the north and east, along the border with Iraq.
Taliban
spokesmen in both Pakistan and Afghanistan declined to comment on
al-Baghdadi's claim to be the global leader of all Muslims. The Afghan
and Pakistani Taliban are separate but allied.
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Armed and dangerous: The well-financed militants of ISIS are the world's most powerful jihadist force
Privately,
some commanders said that they did not want to anger al-Qaeda, whom
they considered a long-time ally in the fight against NATO troops in the
region.
Some Taliban, including some of the younger commanders, were enthusiastic about ISIS.
Pakistan's
own insurgency is on the back foot after the military launched an
offensive against the Taliban's key stronghold last month.
Most
senior commanders are in hiding. Drone strikes have depleted many of
the Taliban's and al-Qaeda's most experienced and charismatic
commanders.
One
Pakistani militant commander in his thirties told reporters: 'We are
happy with the great efforts of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Dozens of my
colleagues from here are with them. Soon Sham and Iraq will be Islamic
states'.
'I like the way of fighting ... it is very effective. We need that here in Pakistan. Many of our fighters have gone there.'
Another, younger man added: 'We like the modern way of there fighting, it is really a holy war, God send us there.'
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