The world is now slowly but surely realising that all the talk of Taliban 2.0 was just a ploy by the terrorist group to gain control over Afghanistan. Taliban 2.0 is no different from Taliban 1.0. All restrictions on girls and women are back. Terrorist groups are again being allowed to set up their hideouts and training camps.
Terror attacks have surged again in Pakistan, a key supporter of Taliban 2.0
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), popularly known as the Pakistan Taliban, is roaming freely in Afghanistan. Pakistan, the main proponent of Taliban 2.0, has seen a resurgence in terror attacks by the TTP from safe havens in Afghanistan. The TTP has openly declared its goal of overthrowing the democratically elected government of Pakistan. The group aims to replace the current system with an emirate that follows its own strict interpretation of Islamic law.
The TTP’s violent campaign has resulted in the deaths of numerous individuals, including members of Pakistan’s defence forces, law enforcement agencies, and the civilian population. 
Terror attacks have surged again in Pakistan, a key supporter of Taliban 2.0
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), popularly known as the Pakistan Taliban, is roaming freely in Afghanistan. Pakistan, the main proponent of Taliban 2.0, has seen a resurgence in terror attacks by the TTP from safe havens in Afghanistan. The TTP has openly declared its goal of overthrowing the democratically elected government of Pakistan. The group aims to replace the current system with an emirate that follows its own strict interpretation of Islamic law.
The TTP’s violent campaign has resulted in the deaths of numerous individuals, including members of Pakistan’s defence forces, law enforcement agencies, and the civilian population.
Now, such news is also coming that al Qaeda He is regrouping and gaining the capabilities to plan and carry out terrorist attacks on Western countries.
pushing the news
- New intelligence reports have revealed that
Hamza bin Laden son ofOsama bin Laden has taken command of al-Qaeda, refuting claims that he was killed in a 2019 US airstrike. Hamza, known as the “Prince of Terror”, is now believed to be playing a key role in the terror group’s resurgence, overseeing the establishment of new training camps in Afghanistan while al-Qaeda is rebuilding its capabilities to launch attacks against Western countries, including Britain and the US, a report by UK’s Mirror said. Experts have warned that Hamza’s leadership is reinvigorating the group and deepening its ties with the Taliban. - Hamza’s brother, Abdullah bin Laden, is also believed to have been involved in al-Qaeda activities, creating a terrorist dynasty led by a powerful family whose shared mission is to spread chaos, just as their father was.
- Hamza bin Laden and his four wives are believed to have taken refuge in Iran for several years to escape the CIA. Despite claims that he was killed in a 2019 US airstrike in Afghanistan, no DNA evidence has been obtained to confirm his death. The Mirror report said that recent intelligence suggests that Hamza used safe houses in various Afghan provinces to facilitate the movement of al-Qaeda members from Iran.
- Reports suggest that Hamza’s survival and re-emergence could mark the most powerful resurgence of al-Qaeda since the Iraq war, raising fears of a new wave of terrorist activity targeting the West, the Mirror report said.
why it matters
- Hamza bin Laden’s leadership represents a new threat from al-Qaeda, a group that has been largely quiet since the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011 and the killing of Osama’s successor Ayman al-Zawahiri in a 2022 US drone strike. Under Hamza’s leadership, al-Qaeda is regrouping in Afghanistan, taking advantage of the Taliban’s return to power after the US withdrawal in 2021.
- This resurgence could have dire consequences for the West. Afghanistan now has a growing number of terrorist training camps, where fighters and suicide bombers are being trained to attack Western targets. The Taliban have allowed al-Qaeda to re-establish itself in the country despite previous promises to end ties with terrorist groups, further complicating the security situation.
- According to some reports, over 21 different terrorist networks are active in Afghanistan, making it one of the most prolific terrorist hubs in the world.
- The fact that these camps are being built in areas where Western forces previously fought – such as Helmand and Ghazni province – underlines the symbolic and strategic threat posed by the resurgence of al-Qaeda. The presence of these camps, combined with al-Qaeda’s growing strength, is raising fears that another 9/11-style attack could occur. “The similarities between the current situation and the prelude to the 9/11 attacks are worrying,” said an intelligence analysis seen by the Mirror.
The Big Picture
- Al-Qaeda’s return is linked to the re-emergence of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Since the fall of Kabul in 2021, the Taliban have maintained strong ties with al-Qaeda, providing the terror group with safe havens and training facilities.
- This cooperation is not new; the Taliban and al-Qaeda have deep historical ties dating back to the 1990s, when Osama bin Laden first established al-Qaeda’s headquarters in Afghanistan. These ties persisted despite the US-led invasion in 2001, and are now stronger than ever.
- According to a recent report by the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, al-Qaeda has opened eight new training camps in Afghanistan by 2024. These camps are located in provinces such as Ghazni, Laghman, Parwan, Uruzgan and Helmand – many of which were once battlegrounds for US and British forces fighting the Taliban. In addition to these camps, al-Qaeda has set up five madrassas (religious schools) in areas such as Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, which serve as breeding grounds for new recruits.
- Hamza bin Laden has reportedly played a key role in this resurgence. Intelligence suggests that Hamza, now in his 30s, is living in Afghanistan under the protection of senior Taliban leaders, and is holding regular meetings with them to coordinate al-Qaeda’s activities.
- Hamza is also believed to have received support from Sirajuddin Haqqani, an Afghan warlord and leader of the notorious Haqqani network. Haqqani, who has been linked to several terror attacks in Afghanistan, is said to be sheltering Hamza and his family in the country, further strengthening ties between the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
- “The re-emergence and strengthening of ties between the Taliban and al-Qaeda and the establishment of its training camps in Afghanistan pose a serious threat to the West,” one intelligence document said. Western officials are particularly concerned that the Taliban are facilitating the movement of al-Qaeda militants between Afghanistan and Iran, allowing them to regroup and plan attacks with minimal interference.
What are they saying?
- Colonel Richard Kemp, the former head of the UK forces in Afghanistan, has expressed deep concern about Hamza’s role in the resurgence of al-Qaeda. “Hamza now has the field open in Afghanistan and he will be intent on victory and revenge for his father,” Kemp told the Mirror. He warned that Hamza’s leadership and the Taliban’s tolerance for terror groups could lead to a new wave of attacks on the West.
- “Hamza bin Laden is not only alive but actively involved in the resurgence of al-Qaeda, a fact well known among senior Taliban leaders. These leaders remain in contact with him, hold regular meetings and keep him and his family safe,” reads one intelligence report. Another source said, “(Hamza) has taken over the leadership of al-Qaeda, leading it to its most powerful resurgence since the Iraq war.”
- Besides Western intelligence, Afghan resistance groups have also raised concerns about al-Qaeda’s growing presence in the country, Foreign Policy reported. Ali Maisam Nazari, a senior leader of Afghanistan’s National Resistance Front (NRF), said during a visit to Washington: “The Taliban have allowed al-Qaeda to build bases and ammunition depots in the heart of the Panjshir Valley. We are seeing all the lights turning red.”
between the lines
- While Hamza’s survival and leadership have rekindled fears of another large-scale attack, the situation in Afghanistan is part of a broader pattern of rising extremism in the region. Alongside al-Qaeda, other terrorist groups such as the Islamic State’s Khorasan branch (ISIS-K), the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan are increasing their influence in Afghanistan, thanks to the Taliban’s inability or unwillingness to crack down on extremist groups.
- The United Nations has also noted a growing presence of foreign fighters in Afghanistan, with militants from Arab countries, Central Asia and even Europe coming to the country to train and join the fight. This influx of fighters, combined with training camps run by al-Qaeda and other groups, makes Afghanistan a global hub of jihadist activity.
- Furthermore, the growing ties between al-Qaeda and ISIS-K are particularly worrying. Previously, the two groups were rivals, but new intelligence reports suggest they are now cooperating, with reports of intermarriage between members of the two factions. This alliance mirrors previous cooperation between key terrorist leaders and signals a new, more unified threat to the West.
what will happen next
- Resurgence of the
Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan There are significant challenges for Western governments. Despite assurances from the Taliban that they would prevent Afghanistan from becoming a haven for terrorism, the reality on the ground suggests the opposite is happening. The US and its allies must now reevaluate their counterterrorism strategies, especially as al-Qaeda rebuilds its infrastructure and strengthens its alliances with other terrorist groups. - Intelligence experts have warned that the growth of these training camps and the re-establishment of al-Qaeda’s network could lead to future attacks not just in the Middle East but also in Europe and the US. “Al-Qaeda is regrouping and preparing for future attacks on Western targets,” says a report seen by the Mirror. The report also highlights the possibility of another 9/11-style attack, driven by the symbolic and strategic weight of Hamza bin Laden’s leadership.
- Under the leadership of Hamzah and the protection of the Taliban, the threat of al-Qaeda is as potent as ever. Western governments, particularly the US and UK, must remain vigilant and develop new strategies to counter this growing threat.
(with inputs from agencies)
