The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also called IS-Khorasan (IS-K), made its entry into Afghanistan on January 2015. Initially, the IS-K comprised of some defectors from the Afghan Taliban and some from Pakistani Taliban, who had fled to Afghanistan, to escape from the Zarb-I-Azb operation of the Pakistan Army, and a merging of other factions from Afghanistan, who had pledged allegiance to the ISIS. Later, the group was joined by some other factions of Afghanistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and the ISIS, that was suffering from a reversal in Iraq and Levant. On April 2015, the IS-Ks’ presence was detected in the north-eastern Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar as the IS-K started attacking targets in the province. The Taliban began their offensive against the IS-K fighters in the Nangarhar province, as they are against ISIS presence in Afghanistan. Afterwards, the US and Afghan forces also attacked the IS-K. These operations have been going on intermittently since June 2015, and the Taliban have been limiting the IS-Ks’ ability to hold ground. Although the IS-K has been suffering losses due to the Taliban operations, and the US bombing, they still have steady number because of reinforcements from the fleeing ISIS members from Iraq and Syria. After getting shot down by the Taliban in one province the IS-K goes to other provinces, where it finds space. Currently, it has made its presence known in the Farah and Helmand provinces. The Independent (UK), on September 3, 2018, reported that “the IS-K in Afghanistan has gathered strength as the US military estimates that IS-K has around 2,000 fighters, although the IS-Ks’ grip on Afghanistan has been weakened by the killing of its country head, Abu Sayed Orakzai.” However, the Military Times, USA, wrote on 26 March 2018, that “According to our data, the IS presence in northeastern Afghanistan is rather serious, having thousands of gunmen”. According to the foreign media, since April 2015, till 9 September 2018, the IS-K has launched a total of 72 suicide and other attacks in Afghanistan, including 2 attacks in 2015, 10 attacks in 2016, 20 attacks in 2017, and 40 attacks in 2018; with almost 28 suicide bombings conducted in Kabul. Around 14 attacks were conducted in Kabul in from September till 2018, this indicates that IS-K is still a potent threat to Afghanistan’s stability. Although the IS-K has been suffering losses due to the Taliban operations, and the US bombing, they still have steady number because of reinforcements from the fleeing ISIS members from Iraq and Syria. After getting shot down by the Taliban in one province, the IS-K goes to other provinces where it successfully finds space Furthermore, in another report, Iran warned Pakistan to be careful because of the relocation of the Islamic State, in the border region shared between Pakistan and Afghanistan. As published by the Voice of America (VOA), Middle East Chapter, on 12 March 2018, Iran accused the United States of helping the Islamic State militants in Afghanistan to fuel regional terrorism. In light of the above discussed situation, Afghanistan’s neighbours and other regional countries think that a firm hold of the IS-K in Afghanistan would be more dangerous than the Taliban for the stability of Afghanistan and other regions. The ISIS has an international agenda and the Taliban have domestic agendas only. Hence, now, Pakistan, Iran, CARs, Russia and China are in favour of supporting intra Afghan dialogue with the Taliban, and even the US has agreed to become a part of the dialogue. Therefore, it is suggested that all the regional countries and extra-regional powers, who have a stake in Afghanistan should support the dialogue, and countries who have leverage with the Taliban should help in making the dialogue sustainable and successful. The writer is an ex-Army Colonel, a former Research Fellow of Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), Islamabad and Senior Research Fellow, Strategic Vision Institute, Islamabad]. He can be reached at hanifsardar@hotmail.com Published in Daily Times, October 5th 2018.