MEMORANDUM FOR 1-506 IR, 2601 Indiana Ave, Fort Campbell, KY, United States 42223-0000
Delta Company, 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 2601 Indiana Ave, Fort Campbell, KY, United States 42223-0000
74th Squadron Detachment, 23rd Wing, 4343 George Street, Moody AFB, GA, United States 31699-0000
SUBJECT: (S) SKOZISTANSITUATION: (S) HOSTILE FACTION INTELLIGENCE BRIEF
ANALYST COMMENT: (S)
Al Qaeda in Skozistan (aka AQS):
History:Al Qaeda started to appear in Skozistan starting in 1992 as a staging point in what was then a fairly lawless and instable former Soviet satellite state. Arms and ammunition were plentiful due to ransacked Soviet stockpiles in Skozistan left over from Soviet staging points used for operations within Afghanistan and from black market weapons pipelines flowing south from further north in Russia proper. Their base of operations in Skozistan served the purpose of acquiring weapons and ammunition and any other military equipment including vehicles up to MBT's and IFV's that could be sent to AQ cells elsewhere.
They laid deep roots within the state, and are simply an accepted presence within Skozistan, held in the same regard as an unwanted but generally harmless neighbor. The government had a simple 'Live and let live' policy on dealing with AQ's presence until 2001 when the World Trade Center was destroyed and AQ became a threat to Skozistan's standing in the international community. Skozistan's military, still relatively unorganized and poorly equipped, started to try and root them out, and successfully drove AQ's public presence out of the nation and forced the rest underground.
But once the public presence was gone victory was declared and AQ changed methods and operated covertly and the government lacked the resources to successfully seek and destroy these elements. As AQ was put under more pressure Skozistan became more and more important, and so their strength grew steadily, every so often being put in check by Skozistan government forces whenever they grew too public in their operations. Lately however they are doing battle with ISIS forces moving in on their territory and in some cases provide covert intel to UN peacekeepers to help rid themselves of an enemy.
Known Operations: 1) Weapons smuggling and acquisition (By extension storage and movement of said equipment)
2) Minor staging point for terrorist activities in Afghanistan.
3) Fighting other terrorist groups moving in on their territory and threatening their operations.
Strength: Numerous enforcers and logistics personnel protected by numerous guards sourced from Chechnya and the Caucasus region as a whole. They have a large transport network of trucks and planes for transporting material.
Known Intentions:They wish to stay in place and continue to utilize the wealth of available black market weapons in Skozistan to keep their terrorist network and battlefield forces fighting.
Taliban in Skozistan:
History:In the 2000's the Taliban started to cooperate with the AQ cell in the country buying weapons and ammunition to continue the fight against the coalition and ANA. The operation grew in size over time, and the Taliban soon had a complete lane of control over the border into Afghanistan sending weapons across to their forces as opium was moved out to be traded or sold. They were established firmly by 2010, and US forces have been unable to go into Skozistan to root them out, and drone flights are strictly prohibited by Skozistan's government.
When Skozistan started to fracture as rival terror cells moved in Taliban forces were moved north to counter their opponents' growing strength, and their relationship with AQS grew sour and only local personnel relationships beyond the control of the overall command structure has managed to remain intact. But as UN/NATO peacekeepers were deployed the Taliban suspected that the West was trying to cut off their access to weapons and equipment from Skozistan using groups like ISIS as their proxy to do so. So they began fighting and attacking peacekeepers to protect their strategic logistics assets in Skozistan.
Known Operations: 1) Acquisition and movement of weapons and equipment into Afghanistan.
2) Export and selling opium to finance their war effort.
3) Fighting against IS cells in the country.
Strength: Growing strength of fighters and growing tribal support in the sourthern reaches of the country near the border where there are some familial ties that cross borders that go back many years.
Known Intentions:They wish to maintain their logistics route into and out of Afghanistan and defeat a growing threat in the form of ISIS.
Classified By: S-2 Intelligence CommandReason: 1.4(a) and (c)Declassify On: 20280814 
