Chris Fitzgerald

Opinion | If Taliban wants legitimacy in Afghanistan, it must renounce al-Qaeda

The world is willing to negotiate with the Taliban and help solve Afghanistan’s problems but, first, the de facto rulers must cut ties with al-Qaeda and address rising terrorism

Reading Time:4 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

Taliban Prime Minister Mohammad Hasan Akhund (left) welcomes China’s new ambassador to Afghanistan Zhao Sheng during the recognition ceremony at the Presidential Palace, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 13, 2023. China has told the Taliban it needs to “take stronger measures to counter various terrorist forces within Afghanistan”. Photo: Handout

Chris Fitzgerald

Published: 5:30am, 25 Feb 2024Updated: 9:17am, 25 Feb 2024

Islamic extremism is on the rise again in Afghanistan, with terrorists flourishing under Taliban rule. With the international community recently meeting in Doha to consider steps to legitimise the Taliban, it could not have come at a worst moment for the de facto rulers of Afghanistan.

In particular, the UN’s report on Afghanistan released last month revealed a disturbing rise in activity by al-Qaeda.

The report said the terrorist group had re-established itself in Afghanistan and “continues to pose a threat to the region, and potentially beyond”. Al-Qaeda has reportedly built eight new training camps, runs safe houses in Kabul and Herat, has stockpiled weapons in the Panjshir Valley, and operates five madrasas in the east of the country.

While the UN report found that al-Qaeda lacks the capability for a large-scale attack, it still harbours global ambitions and is rebuilding its strength in Afghanistan.

Al Qaeda’s re-emergence is a big concern globally. Under the leadership of Osama bin Laden, the group used Afghanistan as a base during the Taliban’s last stint in power between 1996 and 2001. This led to the Taliban being internationally isolated and enabled al-Qaeda to carry out devastating attacks around the world, including September 11.

The Taliban is also connected to smaller groups Tehreek-i Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Tehreek-i Jihad Pakistan (TJP), which have carried out terrorist attacks in neighbouring Pakistan. This includes a bombing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province last year that killed 23 soldiers and injured many more. Over 400 Pakistanis, including security forces, have reportedly died in insurgent suicide bombings and attacks since the start of last year.