The recent declaration of a caliphate by the militant group the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) ominously recalls one of Taliban militants which emerged in Afghanistan in 1996. The new caliphal claim of the Islamic State’s emir Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi seem to be the facsimile feature of Mullah Omar – who claimed to be Amir-ul-Momineen. Both the militant groups are operating under the Islamic banner with only small diversity.

Al-Baghdadi, whose real name is Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri al-Samarrai, is a 40-something Iraqi from Sammara. He has a higher degree in Islamic studies and is a gifted strategist and orator.

To one’s unmitigated chagrin, this Islamic fundamentalist has won the support of many radical jihadists – who are ready to murder the innocent individuals as a gift to the new caliph. In other words, al-Baghdadi has won the hearts of many raw Sunni youngsters the same is his Taliban counterpart Mullah Omar. As a result, many suicide bombings and acts of terror are carried out by newly mature individuals, who have been brainwashed in madrasahs, in Afghanistan.

Alike the Taliban militants, the Islamic State argues that all Muslims, including all jihadist factions, must acknowledge the caliph as their leader. I remember vividly that one would hardly have the guts to turn down the Taliban’s claim. In case of disobeying the rule of Taliban’s emirate, one was lashed, imprisoned or executed.

However, the ISIS seems to cross the limited border of Taliban and has reached at the peak of radicalism. Even Al Qaeda’s current leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, views al-Baghdadi as an extremist and has taken steps to distance his group from the Islamic State.

Although, such radical groups, who have been operating under the aegis of Islam, is no more a new phenomena across the Islamic countries, their infected wounds are still bleeding in the hearts of the victims. Of course, they have left a deep scar on Islamic societies in one way or another. Therefore, it is believed that ISIS is no more than a cancerous disease which is affecting not only the body but also the mind of the people.

Hence, Iraq is in labor to give birth to illegitimate child – perhaps the same happened in Afghanistan in 1996. Such a result is predictable with the emergence of the pregnant mothers such as ISIS and Taliban who breed only extremism and violence. This birth will happen with hemorrhage and outpouring dismay.