Al-Qaeda’s Return to Afghanistan

DID Press: A recent Washington Post report on the establishment of at least eight al-Qaeda training centers in Afghanistan points to a significant shift in the regional terrorism landscape and the gradual revival of infrastructure that, following the Sept. 11 attacks, turned Afghanistan into one of the world’s main arenas for combating terrorism.

The significance of the report lies in its account of more than a scattered presence of al-Qaeda-affiliated individuals. It points to the re-emergence of the network’s training and organizational capacity. The establishment of training centers provides infrastructure for recruiting, training, organizing and regenerating personnel — a capacity that, if sustained, could have consequences beyond Afghanistan’s borders.

The Taliban’s return to power in 2021 fundamentally altered Afghanistan’s security landscape. If Western and UN intelligence reports regarding al-Qaeda training centers are accurate, a serious question now arises over how a network that was the target of extensive counterterrorism operations for two decades has managed to revive part of its capabilities. Reports cited by The Washington Post say al-Qaeda and its affiliates have established at least eight training sites in Afghanistan over the past three years.

From a strategic perspective, the issue is not merely al-Qaeda’s presence. The broader concern is the potential transformation of Afghanistan into an environment for the reproduction of extremist infrastructure for groups such as al-Qaeda and dozens of other militant organizations. Such a trend could increase concerns among regional countries and the international community over the training of operatives, the transfer of operational experience and the possible expansion of cross-border threats.

Twenty-five years after 9/11, the reported revival of al-Qaeda training centers in Afghanistan also carries a historical warning: defeating a terrorist network cannot be achieved solely through military operations. If its ideological, organizational, training and political environment remains active — or is rebuilt — the threat can return in a new form and with greater operational experience.

By Mohsen Mowahed | DID News Agency