It feels strange to even write this, but Al-Qaeda is back in Afghanistan. Not in whispers or shadows, but in a way that looks a lot like their pre-9/11 presence. More than two decades after the “war on terror” began, the group has carved out space under Taliban protection. Reports say Hamza bin Laden, Osama’s son, is now one of the leaders alongside Saif al-Adel, and together they’ve managed to rebuild training camps across a dozen provinces. That’s not just survival, that’s expansion.
When the US pulled out in 2021, the big promise from the Taliban was simple: Afghan soil wouldn’t be used to threaten the world again. That line bought them a degree of legitimacy, at least for a while. But looking at the evidence now, it’s hard to believe they’ve stuck to it. Taliban factions aren’t just turning a blind eye. They’re reportedly hosting training centres, letting militants operate on old US and British bases, and even facilitating drone assembly. Think about the symbolism of that for a moment, facilities once meant to dismantle Al-Qaeda are now being used to rebuild it.
The numbers are sobering. Almost 500 seasoned Al-Qaeda commanders have slipped into Taliban and TTP ranks. There are over 7,000 TTP fighters, 1,500 Baloch separatists, and thousands more linked to Al-Qaeda, ISKP, ETIM, and Jaish-ul-Adl spread out across Afghanistan. Provinces like Kunduz, Kandahar, Helmand, and Nangarhar aren’t just names on a map—they’re active hubs for training and coordination. This isn’t just about ragtag fighters in pickup trucks. We’re talking about organized camps, propaganda channels, and increasingly, drones that can carry out precise attacks.
One detail that struck me was how militants’ families are being supported financially. In Farah province, Afghanistan’s 9th Border Brigade reportedly paid out nearly 750,000 Afghanis to the families of twelve fighters killed inside Pakistan. It’s not a huge amount in global terms, but it matters. It tells fighters their families won’t be abandoned. That’s the kind of backing that sustains these networks.
The financial and political web goes even further. Allegations that India’s RAW funnelled around $300,000 to TTP earlier this year underline how Afghan soil is being used as a chessboard. Whether every detail of that claim checks out or not, it fits the larger pattern. Regional powers are meddling, and Pakistan is caught in the middle. The Taliban either can’t, or won’t, stop it.
The resurgence of Al-Qaeda is about more than local insurgency. The group thrives on alliances. Their renewed ties with ISKP and TTP point to a coalition of militants who share resources, training, and ideology. It’s a dangerous mix. In the 2000s, Al-Qaeda relied heavily on safe havens in remote areas. Now, they have those again, but with modern technology layered on top. A drone carrying explosives doesn’t need a passport. That’s the new reality.
The obvious question is: what can be done? It’s complicated. The US is tired of Afghanistan. Washington doesn’t have much appetite for re-engagement beyond counterterrorism strikes. Pakistan is dealing with its own internal chaos and economic troubles. Yet both countries know ignoring this won’t make it disappear. We’ve seen what happens when safe havens are allowed to harden. The threat doesn’t stay put. It moves. It mutates. It finds the weakest link in the chain and exploits it.
What worries me is the fatigue. People are exhausted by the very mention of Afghanistan. Twenty years of headlines left the world desensitized, and militants know this. They flourish when the world stops paying attention. Right now, that’s exactly what’s happening.
I’m not arguing for another occupation or endless military campaign. But some level of coordination is critical. Pressure on the Taliban must be real, not symbolic. Intelligence sharing between Washington, Islamabad, and regional players can’t be left to chance. If the Taliban leadership keeps hedging, protecting militants on one side while asking for aid on the other, then international recognition and financial support should come with real strings attached.
We shouldn’t underestimate how dangerous this moment is. Al-Qaeda isn’t trying to recreate the past exactly, but they’re drawing on it. Safe havens, ideological alliances, and now access to modern tech, those are the ingredients for something that could spill out far beyond South Asia. The Gulf and even parts of Europe could feel the shockwaves if this network keeps growing unchecked.
It’s easy to tune out news like this and assume it’s just more of the same. But Al-Qaeda’s resurgence in Afghanistan isn’t just history repeating itself, it’s history remixing with new tools and fresh energy. That should worry everyone, not just the neighbours across the Durand Line.
