Exclusive: In turf war with Afghan Taliban, Islamic State loyalists gain ground

Reuters ^ | June 29, 2015 | Hamid Shalizi

[C19fan]

Fighters loyal to Islamic State have seized substantial territory in Afghanistan for the first time, witnesses and officials said, wresting areas in the east from rival Taliban insurgents in a new threat to stability.

Witnesses who fled fighting in Nangarhar province told Reuters that hundreds of insurgents pledging allegiance to Islamic State pushed out the Taliban, scorching opium poppy fields that help to fund the Taliban's campaign to overthrow the Afghan government.

[C19fan]

ISIS doing the job Washington did not allow us to do.

[TexasCajun]

That’s cause IS has a weapons advantage thanks to Obama & Hillary.

[2banana]

Can we arm both sides and get some popcorn?

[Lorianne]

Oh good. Are we now going to go in to save the Taliban from ISIS. Sounds like our policy elsewhere (save some Muslims from other Muslims) so why not?

Which side will we choose this time?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks C19fan.

...hundreds of insurgents pledging allegiance to Islamic State pushed out the Taliban, scorching opium poppy fields that help to fund the Taliban's campaign to overthrow the Afghan government.

Remember the good old days, when the Taliban used to burn the poppy fields. How the mighty have fallen.