MoD concerns over Al-Qaeda’s reactivation in Afghanistan

Simultaneously with increase of concerns over the Islamic State (IS) presence in some provinces of the country, the Ministry of Defense, (MoD) has said that Al-Qaeda is also being consistent to begin activation once again in Afghanistan.

MoD says that the Al-Qaeda group is strengthening in cooperation with the Daesh group and the assistance of the regional countries.

“The Al-Qaeda group after its defeat has gone to the Arabic countries and north Africa and now with the cooperation of the region once again wants to reactivate in Afghanistan,” Muhammad Rad Manish, deputy spokesman of MoD said.

Rad Manish noted that the Al-Qaeda group are scattered in some provinces such as; Paktiya, Nangarhar, Kunar and Badakhshan but the IS group does not accept them.

U.S. officials said the number of core al Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan could be as high as 300, but that number does include other facilitators and sympathizers in their network.

However, the commander of public order of interior ministry stresses that all Daesh, Al-Qaeda and Taliban; the terrorist groups are the same for them.

“The terrorist groups are the enemies of Afghan people and they are the same for us,” Zmaray Paikan said.

Al-Qaeda is back in Afghanistan, joining Isis and the Taliban in waging jihad. The three most prominent Islamist terrorist groups in the world are now in one violent arena and drawing the West back into a bloody conflict it had sought to leave behind.

This year al-Qaeda and Isis as well as the Taliban will be taking part in the traditional spring offensive. There is apprehension is that swathes of territories controlled by the insurgents may, once again, be used to plot attacks abroad. The West may find, again, that walking away from Afghanistan comes with a high price.