Al Qaeda's Resurgence: Examining The Terrorist Group's Presence In Afghanistan

Al-Qaeda, the Islamist terrorist group founded by Osama Bin Laden in the 1980s, has had a presence in Afghanistan since the 1980s. The group was headquartered in Afghanistan from 1989 until 1991, after which its base moved to Sudan until 1996. In 1996, Bin Laden and other members of al-Qaeda relocated to Afghanistan. In 2021, the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan once again provided al-Qaeda with a safe haven, despite the Taliban's promises to the US and the international community to prevent this.

Al-Qaeda's relationship with the Taliban

The Taliban and Al-Qaeda have a long history of cooperation, but their relationship has been strained at times. The Taliban is a predominantly Pashtun, Islamic fundamentalist group that returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021 after waging an insurgency against the U.S.-backed government in Kabul since 2001. Al-Qaeda, on the other hand, is a global terrorist organization with a presence in multiple countries.

The Taliban and Al-Qaeda have a complex and evolving relationship that has been influenced by their shared fundamentalist interpretation of Islam, as well as their mutual interests in expelling U.S. forces from Afghanistan and retaking the country. The Taliban provided sanctuary to Al-Qaeda during its rule from 1996 to 2001, and Al-Qaeda, in turn, provided financial and military support to the Taliban.

However, their relationship has also been strained at times due to differences in strategic objectives and tactics. The Taliban is solely focused on Afghanistan and has never embraced Al-Qaeda's global jihadist ambitions. Al-Qaeda's presence was a source of internal tension within the Taliban, and some members were frustrated by Al-Qaeda's acts of terrorism against the U.S.

Despite these differences, the two groups have maintained their alliance over the years, and Al-Qaeda has continued to operate clandestinely alongside and independently of the Taliban. Recent developments suggest that the Taliban is unlikely to abandon Al-Qaeda, as doing so would require them to abandon their current identity as an organization based on fundamentalist Islam and the Pashtunwali code.

Al-Qaeda's presence in Afghanistan

Al-Qaeda's history in Afghanistan dates back to the Soviet-Afghan War, when it emerged as a logistical network supporting Muslims fighting against the Soviet Union. After the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989, the group dispersed but continued its activities, including opposing what it deemed corrupt Islamic regimes and foreign presence in Islamic lands.

In the early 1990s, Al-Qaeda was based in Sudan, but it later returned to Afghanistan, where it enjoyed the patronage of the Taliban. This relationship between Al-Qaeda and the Taliban has been characterised by deep ideological affinity, shared history on the battlefield, and personal connections through marriage and kinship ties.

In recent years, Al-Qaeda's presence in Afghanistan has been diminished, with the group facing leadership losses and a reduction in its ability to threaten the United States. However, it is important to note that Al-Qaeda remains resilient and adaptable, evolving structurally to become more decentralised and grassroots-focused.

The death of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a US drone strike in Kabul in 2022 highlighted the continued presence and relationship between Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Al-Zawahiri's presence in Kabul indicated that the group continued to view Afghanistan as a preferred location for its leadership.

Despite Al-Qaeda's current low profile, it is important to recognise its ability to adapt and its history of resilience. The group has a long-standing relationship with the Taliban and has demonstrated its ability to operate clandestinely, making it a continued concern for counterterrorism efforts.

Al-Qaeda's training camps and safe houses in Afghanistan

Al-Qaeda has a long history of operating training camps and safe houses in Afghanistan. In 2024, the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team reported that Al-Qaeda had opened eight new training camps and five madrasas in Afghanistan, in addition to a weapons depot and safe houses to facilitate member movement to and from Iran. These camps were established in the provinces of Ghazni, Laghman, Parwan, and Uruzgan. With these new camps, Al-Qaeda now operates training facilities in 10 out of Afghanistan's 34 provinces.

Al-Qaeda's training camps in Afghanistan have been functioning for decades, with several thousand camps established throughout the country in the 1980s during the Soviet-Afghan War. These camps have historically provided not only militant and physical training but also extensive Islamic faith and history instruction. The majority of a recruit's work in these camps revolves around physical training and spiritual devotion, with theology considered the most important task. Recruits are instructed in weapons handling, explosives and poison production, vehicle operation and maintenance, basic engineering, farming, and urban guerrilla tactics. They also undergo mazes, obstacle courses, and trench exercises, and attend classroom lectures.

Secrecy is paramount in Al-Qaeda's training camps. Recruits typically do not know the names of fellow recruits or instructors, nor do they know the exact location of the camp. Camps are generally located in desolate areas suitable for militant training and are designed with few entrances and exits.

Some of Al-Qaeda's known training camps in Afghanistan include:

• Al Farouq training camp: A Taliban and Al-Qaeda camp near Kandahar, Afghanistan. Camp attendees received training in small arms, map reading, orientation, and explosives. It operated from 1998 until August 2001, when it was shut down by its trainers.
• Darunta: A camp near Jalalabad that is home to Al-Qaeda's chemical warfare laboratory, as reported by The Guardian.
• Khandhar province training camps: The Washington Post reported that a US operation found "probably the largest" Al-Qaeda training camp in the Khandhar province in 2015.
• Manogai Village Training Camp: A camp where witnesses reported seeing recruiters training new members.
• Pakash Village Training Camp: A camp in the same area as Manogai Village, where recruits were taught weapons handling, martial arts, and English and Russian languages.

Al-Qaeda is also understood to have operated a number of safe houses, some of which doubled as training centres. Safe houses are typically used to facilitate the discreet movement of individuals, providing them with a place to stay, acquire resources, obtain false documentation, or secure transportation.

The US's counterterrorism strategy in Afghanistan

Obama Administration

Under the Obama administration, the US aimed to transition the conflict's resolution to be an Afghan responsibility, with Washington underwriting its financial costs. The US also shifted its focus to building Afghan security forces while maintaining a modest unilateral counterterrorism capability against transnational threats.

Trump Administration

The Trump administration reviewed the issues and opted to maintain a modest US troop presence in Afghanistan. The administration recognised that the Afghan security forces were incapable of independently holding territory against the Taliban.

Biden Administration

The Biden administration has argued for a robust "over-the-horizon" counterterrorism campaign, using aerial platforms and satellites to collect intelligence on terrorist activity. This strategy involves conducting strikes from fixed-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) while minimising military forces, casualties, financial costs, and political risks. However, the lack of partner forces, intelligence architecture, and nearby bases in Afghanistan poses significant challenges for the US.

To address these challenges, the Biden administration should:

• Work with local forces inside and outside Afghanistan to rebuild the US's intelligence architecture against terrorist groups.
• Negotiate basing access in the region, especially for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
• Expand over-the-horizon capabilities by investing in unmanned MQ-9 aircraft, which have a longer range and larger payload than MQ-9A Reaper variants.

Overall US Counterterrorism Strategy

The overall US counterterrorism strategy in Afghanistan aims to:

• Work with the Taliban against some terrorist groups, particularly ISIS-K.
• Conduct a robust over-the-horizon counterterrorism campaign.
• Foster a long-term counterterrorism partnership with Afghanistan.

Al-Qaeda's relationship with other terrorist groups

Al-Qaeda has a complex relationship with other terrorist groups, with some acting as affiliates, and others as rivals.

Al-Qaeda has a history of working with other terrorist organisations to achieve its goals. In the 1980s, Osama bin Laden worked with Abdullah Azzam to create a group called Maktab al-Khidmat, which funnelled jihadis into Afghanistan.

Al-Qaeda has also been linked to the Haqqani Network, which has a history of cooperation with Al-Qaeda and other Islamist groups. The network has hosted members of different groups, leading to new connections between organisations.

Al-Qaeda has also been affiliated with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, which was led by Ayman al-Zawahiri. Al-Zawahiri was also the leader of an EIJ faction, and built a strong relationship with bin Laden.

Al-Qaeda has also been linked to the Taliban, who provided bin Laden with safe haven, though the group was wary of him. Al-Qaeda reportedly paid the Taliban between $10 and $20 million per year for shelter.

Al-Qaeda has also been linked to the Islamic State of Iraq, which later became the Islamic State. However, the relationship between the two groups was rocky, with Al-Qaeda disavowing the Islamic State in 2014.

Al-Qaeda has also been linked to the following groups:

• Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan
• Ansar al-Islam
• Lashkar-e-Taiba
• Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
• Jaish-e-Mohammed
• Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan
• Abu Sayyaf Group
• Harkat-ul-Mujahedeen
• Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami
• Al-Shabaab
• Al-Nusra Front
• Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent
• Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
• Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

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