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The Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) has never had any trouble finding foreign fighters to assist them in their battle for control over Syria and Iraq but recently they have gone to a new level. In an article published in Reuters by Michelle Nichols called “U.N. concerned by Islamic State’s ability to unite Afghan insurgents,” Nichols states that the Islamic State has a unique ability to unite Afghan insurgents. Despite some tensions between ISIS and the Taliban, there have been many Taliban fighters who have joined the Islamic State. Nichols states that the two groups join not so much because they believe in what the Islamic State stands for but because it can be a “potential to offer an alternative flagpole to which otherwise isolated insurgent splinter groups can rally.” Because these Taliban fighters are willing to join ISIS, and make them even stronger, the Afghanistan government is willing to open peace talks with them.
Russia has also attempted to hold peace talks with most of those involved in the Syrian conflict but it has been in vain. In fact, according to a WashingtonTimes article by Anne R. Pierce titled “Beware ISIS strategy that fortifies Russia, Iran, and Syria,” ISIS, Russia, Iran and Syria are allies in this conflict and so peace talks seem hypocritical to a point. In many cases, there are people who believe ISIS is only assisting these three countries advance their own agendas. This includes “allowing Assad to stay in power, legitimizing Russian-sponsored “peace conferences” that buy Assad time and raise Putin’s stature, accommodating the Iranian nuclear program, and giving Iran the lead in the battle against ISIS and in the Levant.”
As stated before, ISIS has never had a problem recruiting fighters but the difference this time is that these are semi-trained fighters who have been in a war before (for the most part). This means that the Islamic State is even stronger than ever but what makes it even stronger is its close allies. These allies which include Russia, Iran, and Syria (mainly Assad’s regime) have been using ISIS to pursue their own agenda and so the growing power of ISIS only means more power and control for themselves.