Extremist network left a legacy of destruction, suffering in Afghanistan and beyond

Al-Qaeda's arrival in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion of the 1980s marked a turning point that would reshape both the country and the international security landscape for decades to come.

The group's presence fueled extremism and violence, contributing to the emergence of various terrorist groups, as what began as foreign involvement in a regional conflict evolved into a global terrorist network.

Between 1992 and 2019, al-Qaeda carried out attacks in Afghanistan, the United States, India, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, several European nations, and various Arab countries, according to available data.

The network's September 11, 2001 attack on the United States killed nearly 3,000 people and wounded more than 6,000, becoming the deadliest terrorist act in history and triggering the formation of a global counterterrorism coalition.

Afghanistan bore the brunt of al-Qaeda's violence through countless domestic attacks, with suicide bombings and improvised explosive devices in cities including Kabul, Kandahar and Jalalabad killing hundreds of civilians.

Targeted assassinations of former Afghan government officials and attacks on civilian gatherings became hallmarks of extremist campaigns in Afghanistan.

"Not only Afghanistan but many countries, including Yemen, Iraq, Syria and some African nations, have suffered severely from the presence and legacy of al-Qaeda," said Kabul-based political analyst Mohammad Shafi Nazemi.

"As the 'mother' of extremist and terrorist groups, al-Qaeda has fueled instability and insecurity around the world," he told Salaam Times.

Attempts to justify violence

Al-Qaeda has consistently distorted Islamic teachings to justify violence and recruit followers, analysts said, noting that the group's attempts to give religious legitimacy to heinous acts fundamentally misrepresents the faith.

"Through terrorist attacks, al-Qaeda has tried to portray itself as a defender of Islam and to earn legitimacy in the eyes of its extremist supporters," Kabul-based political analyst Nezamuddin Kabiri told Salaam Times.

This strategy enabled it to recruit fighters while attracting financial support from backers who rewarded increasingly violent actions, he said.

"Al-Qaeda has justified its terrorist activities by deliberately distorting Islamic values and misusing Qur'anic verses and the Prophet's sayings, an appalling act that has significantly tarnished the image of Islam," Kabiri said.

Al-Qaeda specifically targets uneducated and impoverished youth, Herat-based political analyst Nazeer Ahmad Karimi told Salaam Times.

"By crafting emotional narratives and false slogans in the name of Islam, al-Qaeda stirs the emotions of the uneducated and lures them into its ranks," he said, often by sensationalizing images of dead children and destroyed mosques.

Al-Qaeda traps families by offering money and false promises, and after brainwashing their youth, uses them as expendable fighters, he said.