RASC News Agency: Saif al-Adl, believed to be the current leader of Al-Qaeda, has called on his supporters to migrate to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan for military training and to provide financial support to the Taliban. This appeal was made in the latest issue of the Al-Qaeda publication “Al-Sahab,” titled “This is Gaza: A War for Existence, Not Borders.” The Long War Journal reported on Saturday, June 8, that Saif al-Adl has issued a clear call for foreign fighters supporting Al-Qaeda to join their ranks in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power.
In his message, al-Adl described the Taliban as “heroes” and role models for establishing “Islamic states.” He formally designated Afghanistan as a safe haven for Al-Qaeda and its future plans, urging loyal Muslims to learn from the conditions in Afghanistan and benefit from the experiences of the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate. He emphasized that Al-Qaeda supporters should travel to Afghanistan for training, experience, and knowledge before targeting “Zionist” and Western objectives. Al-Adl stressed that the appropriate response to enemy crimes is action, not words, citing examples like 9/11, the Afghanistan war, and the October 7 attack on Israel.
Furthermore, al-Adl highlighted the necessity of coordination and the exchange of military experiences among Al-Qaeda’s branches worldwide, calling for mutual support in battlefields. Al-Adl is presumed to have succeeded Ayman al-Zawahiri, the last leader of Al-Qaeda, who was killed on July 31, 2022, in a U.S. drone strike on a Taliban safe house in Kabul. This safe house was reportedly managed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, along with two other senior officials.
Nearly two years after al-Zawahiri’s death, neither Al-Qaeda nor the Taliban have confirmed his demise. The Haqqani network, known for its close ties with Al-Qaeda, is listed as a “foreign terrorist organization.” According to United Nations sanctions monitoring reports, since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021, Al-Qaeda has established secure havens within the country. The UN monitoring team has also noted that the relationship between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda remains strong.
Reports indicate that Al-Qaeda maintains active training centers in ten Afghanistan provinces, including Badghis, Helmand, Ghazni, Kunar, Laghman, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Parwan, Uruzgan, and Zabul. Despite these findings, the Taliban have consistently denied the presence of Al-Qaeda and other “terrorist groups” in Afghanistan.
