Taliban fighters in Afghanistan amid reports of Al-Qaeda resurgence in 2025
Taliban militants in Afghanistan, where Al-Qaeda has reportedly re-established operations under Taliban protection, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Al-Qaeda Re-Emerges in Afghanistan 24 Years After 9/11 Under Taliban Protection Source: The Jerusalem Post

Nearly 24 years after the September 11 attacks, Al-Qaeda has re-established a foothold in Afghanistan, this time under the protection of the ruling Taliban regime, according to a recent report by The Jerusalem Post. This resurgence is raising alarms about a new wave of global terrorism originating once again from Afghan soil.

Terrorist Safe Havens in Post-U.S. Afghanistan

The withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2021 created a power vacuum in Afghanistan. Since then, the country has gradually become a safe haven for international terrorist organisations, including:

  • Al-Qaeda

  • Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)

  • ISIS-K (Islamic State Khorasan)

These groups are reportedly cooperating with various Taliban factions to establish training camps across multiple Afghan provinces.

Leadership and Coordination

According to the report:

  • Hamza bin Laden and Saif al-Adl are leading Al-Qaeda’s restructured network.

  • Saif al-Adl, a former Egyptian commando and close associate of Osama bin Laden, is now Al-Qaeda’s most experienced military strategist.

  • TTP commanders in Afghanistan are planning cross-border attacks into Pakistan, threatening regional stability.

Modern Capabilities and Global Reach

While a large-scale attack similar to 9/11 may not be imminent, analysts warn that Al-Qaeda’s capabilities have evolved:

  • Use of drone technology

  • Online recruitment of new members

  • Deployment of combat-experienced fighters

These factors increase the risk of smaller but highly lethal attacks both in the region and internationally.

TTP’s Transformation into a Global Threat

The report also emphasises that TTP is no longer a localised insurgent group. It is transforming into an international terrorist organisation, with ambitions that go beyond Pakistan.

This transformation, supported by Taliban protection and Al-Qaeda’s guidance, presents a serious challenge to regional peace and global counterterrorism efforts.

ISIS-K as a Smokescreen

According to intelligence sources cited by The Jerusalem Post, ISIS-K is being used strategically to:

  • Distract attention from the Taliban–Al-Qaeda alliance

  • Justify Taliban’s denials of hosting international terror groups

  • Create confusion about the real sources of extremist violence

Call for Global Counter terrorism Action

Experts urge the international community to:

  • Improve intelligence sharing

  • Strengthen regional counter terrorism frameworks

  • Address the growing threat from terrorist networks in Afghanistan

Failure to act could allow these networks to operate freely, endangering national security in the U.S., Pakistan, and across South and Central Asia.

Afghanistan is once again at the centre of global security concerns. The resurgence of Al-Qaeda under Taliban rule, alongside growing cooperation with TTP and ISIS-K, is a stark reminder of how quickly terrorist threats can evolve in unstable regions.

As regional and global stakeholders assess the next steps, one thing is clear: complacency is not an option.