RASC News Agency: Michael McCaul, a prominent U.S. politician and former Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has raised concerns about the resurgence of ISIS in Afghanistan under the Taliban’s watch. Speaking to ABC News on Monday, January 6, McCaul stated, “We are now witnessing the reemergence of ISIS in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of foreign forces,” emphasizing that this development represents a critical threat to the United States.
McCaul further revealed that eight ISIS operatives have reportedly infiltrated the United States, potentially aiming to carry out harmful activities. As a member of the Republican Party, McCaul has long been a staunch critic of the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, previously describing the chaotic evacuation as “a disgraceful moment in American history.” In response to the fallout from the withdrawal, McCaul has repeatedly summoned senior Biden administration officials to testify before Congress. Analysts believe that with the possible return of Donald Trump to the presidency, U.S. policy towards the Taliban is likely to undergo significant changes.
Experts argue that, ideologically, the Taliban and ISIS share more similarities than differences. Both groups intertwine their interpretation of Islam with cultural traditions ISIS with Arab customs and the Taliban with Pashtunwali, the tribal code of the Pashtun people. Both are proponents of exporting jihad beyond their borders and enforcing their rigid versions of Sharia law across the Muslim world and, ultimately, globally.
Observers further caution that the Taliban’s continued rule directly correlates with the strengthening of ISIS in Afghanistan. The Taliban’s inability to establish effective governance, coupled with their repressive policies, has created an environment where extremist factions like ISIS can flourish. This not only exacerbates Afghanistan’s domestic instability but also poses an escalating threat to regional and global security.
