Al-Qaeda, one of the most notorious terrorist organizations in the world, has been making a comeback in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August 2021. The group, which was once led by the infamous Osama Bin Laden, has been enjoying greater freedom to operate in the country under Taliban rule.
Al-Qaeda grew out of the Maktab al-khadamat organization, which was created by Bin Laden’s mentor, Abdullah Azam, to finance combatants in Afghanistan. Since its inception, the group has mounted numerous attacks on civilian and military targets, including the 1998 US Embassy bombings in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the October 2000 USS Cole attack, and the 2001 September 11 attacks.
From its creation until 1998, Al-Qaeda was based in Afghanistan and Peshawar, Pakistan. In 1991, Bin Laden relocated the group to Sudan while maintaining offices in other parts of the world. However, in 1996, Bin Laden and other Al-Qaeda members returned to Afghanistan when the Taliban gained power. From 1996 to 2001, Al-Qaeda was led from Afghanistan by Bin Laden and his associates, who were under the protection of the Taliban.
After the death of Bin Laden in 2011, the group was led by Ayman al-Zawahiri until his death in August 2022 in a drone bombing inside Kabul, Afghanistan. The current leader of Al-Qaeda is Sayf Al-Adel.
Since the Taliban takeover, Al-Qaeda has been regaining strength in Afghanistan, with an estimated 1,500 members operating in the country. With the group’s historical presence in the south and east of Afghanistan, they are likely to be a key player in the region’s ongoing instability.
As Afghanistan faces an uncertain future, it’s important to recognize the other terrorist groups currently operating in the country. Stay tuned for our upcoming articles introducing the remaining 7 active terrorist groups in Afghanistan, including ISIS-K, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, Khatiba Imam Al-Bukhari, the Islamic Jihad Union, the Haqqani Network, and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
