Al-Qaeda may reemerge in Afghanistan: US Secretary of Defe Lloyd Austin

Kuwait City/Kabul: US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin has said that Al-Qaeda, which launched a terrorist attack on the United States two decades ago, could reemerge in Afghanistan. He also said that the reunification of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan is dangerous and claimed that the United States is ready to stop Al-Qaeda. Last month, President Joe Biden, while justifying the US military withdrawal, had said that Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan was over. But now, senior officials in the Biden administration are hinting that Al-Qaeda is reactivating in Afghanistan. This shows once again that President Biden is unaware of the reality in Afghanistan.

‘The whole world is watching if Al-Qaeda regroups in Afghanistan. Both Al-Qaeda and IS have the potential to regroup if given the opportunity. Al-Qaeda can raise its head in Afghanistan or any uncontrolled region,’ said Austin. Austin also claimed that the Taliban had previously provided a haven to Al-Qaeda and that the Taliban had been given notice not to do so. At the same time, the Secretary of Defence said that the United States could prevent any threat to US security from Afghanistan.

The US Secretary of Defence said, ‘Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organisations in Afghanistan will be fought using the fighter jets stationed at other bases, including the Persian Gulf.’ At the same time, he acknowledged that such operations would be more difficult in Afghanistan because of the lack of US troops and intelligence. In an agreement reached with the Taliban last year, the United States stipulated that the Taliban would not harbour any terrorist organisation in Afghanistan. But despite the terms of the agreement, senior US officials have consistently maintained that the Taliban have ties with Al-Qaeda.

Even before the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Secretary of Defence Austin and senior military official General Frank McKenzie had warned about Al-Qaeda. Defence Secretary Austin said in a parliamentary hearing that Al-Qaeda would reemerge in Afghanistan within two years of the US withdrawal. Gen. Frank McKenzie, meanwhile, warned that the threat posed by Al-Qaeda to the United States would increase after the withdrawal.

Former US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta, also the former head of the CIA, underlined the threat posed by both Al-Qaeda and IS. However, President Biden hastily decided to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, ignoring the decision of senior officials and advisors.

In support of his decision, Biden claimed that the US-led operation in Afghanistan was to eliminate Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. President Biden said that there is no need to keep troops in Afghanistan after the end of Al-Qaeda. But just hours after Biden’s remarks, a Pentagon spokesman slammed President Biden, saying Al-Qaeda was active in Afghanistan.