UN Report: Al-Qaeda Allies with Taliban and Rebuilds Training Camps in Afghanistan
A recent United Nations report reveals that the ISIS-Khorasan organization is expanding in Afghanistan, with an estimated number of fighters approaching 6,000. It also states that Al-Qaeda is quietly rebuilding training camps in Afghanistan, while the Taliban allies with Al-Qaeda, allowing them to operate freely and providing protection for their leaders.
The report, published by the United Nations Security Council and detailed by Fox News, identifies ISIS-Khorasan as the most significant current terrorist threat in Afghanistan, with an estimated number of fighters ranging from 4,000 to 6,000. Since the fall of the country, ISIS-Khorasan has benefited from increased operational capabilities and freedom of movement within Afghanistan.
The report indicates that the relationship between Al-Qaeda and the Taliban is not only strong but also that Al-Qaeda protects senior Taliban officials and has attempted to infiltrate the government. A Taliban leader associated with Al-Qaeda was appointed as the Deputy Director of the General Directorate of Intelligence. Additionally, the report reveals that the Taliban has provided monthly “social payments” to Al-Qaeda.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham commented on the report, stating that he has no doubt about the accuracy of the United Nations report, which documents the deep connections between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. The United Nations report highlights the divisions within the Taliban and the power struggles, describing the situation as dangerous and destabilizing for the Afghan government.
Furthermore, the report indicates that Al-Qaeda is using Afghanistan as a logistical hub for recruiting new fighters and quietly rebuilding its external operational capabilities, directly contradicting the commitments made by the Taliban in 2021 to the international community.
The report also notes that Al-Qaeda has become a more decentralized organization since its destruction after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. In the long run, Al-Qaeda will be able to capitalize on the ongoing tensions in Afghanistan. According to the report, Al-Qaeda is currently present in key locations such as Kabul, Kandahar, and Helmand, and is establishing new training camps in the country.
It is worth mentioning that following the collapse of the U.S.-backed Afghan government of Ashraf Ghani in August 2021, Taliban spokespersons assured that Afghanistan would not become a safe haven for terrorist groups again and that they would not allow any terrorist group to launch attacks from Afghan territory.
The Doha Agreement of 2020, negotiated during the tenure of former President Donald Trump, laid the foundation for the withdrawal of all U.S. forces in exchange for a commitment from the Taliban to prevent any terrorist organization from using Afghan territory to threaten or attack the United States or its allies.
