Taliban’s Return Bolsters Jihadism Across Regions

In August 2021, the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan marked a significant shift in empowering jihadist groups from South Asia to the Middle East. Groups like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, inspired by the Taliban’s success, are pursuing their ideological goals and attempting to overthrow existing governments.
These groups, aiming to establish Islamic governance, are leveraging regional support to achieve their objectives. The Taliban and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, besides ideological alignment, share a history of collaboration with Al-Qaeda and benefit from their joint experiences in guerrilla warfare.
After the Taliban’s fall in the early 21st century, many leaders took refuge in Pakistan, maintaining their connections with Al-Qaeda. Despite the killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul in 2022, the Taliban continue to support jihadist groups.
In Syria, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, led by al-Julani with a background in Al-Qaeda, has solidified its power and attracted jihadists from various countries. This situation has heightened security concerns in Central Asian countries.
With these developments, Afghanistan under Taliban rule has become a hub for recruiting and training jihadists, posing threats to neighboring countries, including Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. This situation represents a multifaceted threat to regional security and stability.

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