A new analysis from Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Centre says the Afghanistan-based Taliban has surpassed the Islamic State to become the world’s deadliest nonstate armed group.
The group reported that while terrorist attacks decreased 10% to 14,009 in 2019, the lowest level since 2011, Taliban attacks increased by almost 90%, resulting in a 60% increase in deaths.
The data shows that the Taliban accounted for more deaths than the next nine deadliest groups combined.
The ignominious distinction comes as President Trump reportedly has given conditional approval to a peace deal with the Taliban that could mark the beginning of the end of America’s longest war, according to Afghan and U.S. officials.
“But the deal will only be signed if the Taliban prove their commitment to a durable reduction of violence over a test period of about seven days later this month,” reports the New York Times.
“If the Taliban do end hostilities and a deal is signed, the United States would then begin a gradual withdrawal of American troops, and direct negotiations would start between the Taliban and Afghan leaders over the future of their country,” the newspaper reports.
Meanwhile, Islamic State attacks and resultant fatalities both fell by around 20% in comparison to 2018.
“The decreases reflected a substantial downturn in activity in Iraq and Syria, although the group’s operations in West Africa and the Sahel underline the ongoing significant threat posed by the group,” said Matthew Henman, head of Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Centre.
Read more from our senior writer on defense and national security in today’s edition of Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense.
