Afghanistan faces renewed terror threat as al-Qaeda rebuilds

KABUL – Al-Qaeda's reign of terror in Afghanistan has left a devastating toll of civilian casualties, human rights violations and religious persecution, with experts now warning the group is rebuilding its capacity for large-scale attacks.

Al-Qaeda was founded in 1988 amid the Soviet-Afghan War, which drew fighters who would later form its core. Its presence attracted extremists from multiple countries, establishing Afghanistan and Pakistan as global terrorism centers.

"If extremist groups like al-Qaeda hadn't entered Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion, the country never would have fallen into the grip of extremism and violence," Nimroz-based military analyst Hamza Baloch told Salaam Times.

The group introduced tactics such as suicide bombings, departing from conventional warfare methods used by earlier groups in the region, according to analysts.

Al-Qaeda's extremist ideology has catalyzed widespread human rights violations across Afghanistan, particularly systematic attacks against ethnic and religious minorities, according to the Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect.

The Hazara community has been especially vulnerable to suicide bombings and attacks on places of worship.

The center's research also indicates the destabilizing presence of armed extremist groups has contributed significantly to Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis, with two-thirds of the population now dependent on aid for survival.

Religious manipulation

According to terrorism expert Jerrold Post, al-Qaeda's training manuals reveal a calculated pattern of religious manipulation, selectively citing Qur'anic verses and hadiths without proper context.

Al-Qaeda offers elaborate justifications when its instructions contradict authentic Islamic teaching, Post said.

The group distorts the principle 'Die not except in a state of Islam' – meant to encourage complete devotion to faith – to justify suicide terrorism, he said.

"Since its inception, al-Qaeda has committed crimes against humanity using the name of Islam," Italy-based Afghan security analyst Mohammad Naim Ghayur told Salaam Times.

"The actions of splinter groups like the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) clearly reflect the true nature of this terrorist network," he said.

Lasting consequences

"Al-Qaeda derailed Afghanistan's progress and development, steering it toward war and devastation," Ghayur said. "This terrorist network is responsible for over four decades of killings, disabilities, destruction and forced migrations."

This culminated in the 9/11 attacks, which Baloch noted were "planned from Afghan soil" and "sparked another devastating war."

The threat isn't just historical. Since August 2021, al-Qaeda has reemerged and is developing capabilities for large-scale attacks, Ghayur warned.

United Nations experts validated this assessment in a July report, documenting al-Qaeda's efforts to rebuild operational capacity through partnerships with other extremist groups.

The report noted a concerning influx of Central Asian and Arab fighters entering Afghanistan, often disguised as hunting parties.