The ISKP as a communicative actor: propaganda strategies and power construction

Abstract

The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) has emerged as a key communications actor within the global jihadist ecosystem, using propaganda as a strategic tool to expand its influence and consolidate its power. Since the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2021, the ISKP has intensified, as a Da’esh subsidiary, its regionalization and internationalization strategy, extending its reach beyond Central and South Asia to the West. This expansion has been reflected in a sophisticated media network, which includes its reference platform Al Azaim. In this article, and within the framework of a research stay at the Centre for Intelligence against Terrorism and Organised Crime (CITCO), it will analyse one of Da’esh’s most important magazines, which is generally published in English: Voice of Khurasan magazine, as well as the recent Light of Darkness newsletters that emerged from it. The purpose of all this is to compare the thematic content of the seven issues published so far, as well as to draw parallels with the producer’s own broadcasts in those months. Consequently, and under the premise that these media have a different focus, the question will be answered: What communicative strategies does the ISKP use to position itself as a relevant actor within the global jihadist panorama? This will be done using a methodology based on a descriptive method, an observation method and a comparative method.