Dawood Naji, head of the political committee of the Afghanistan Freedom Front, has asserted that the Taliban continues to maintain strong links with Al-Qaeda while assassinating hundreds of former security personnel. He welcomed the recent US Senate move to cut aid to the Taliban as a crucial step towards accountability.
Naji highlighted the Taliban’s persistent demands for the release of Muhammad Rahim, Osama bin Laden’s personal translator, from Guantanamo Bay as clear evidence of this enduring alliance. He argues that such insistence proves the relationship between the Taliban and the terrorist network remains unbroken.
Furthermore, Naji warned that despite assurances to the contrary, the Taliban has not severed ties with global terror groups. His comments reinforce earlier concerns that the group’s prioritization of Al-Qaeda affiliates over international diplomacy signals a continued threat to regional security.
