RASC News Agency: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has asserted that ISIS and Al-Qaeda continue to operate within Afghanistan, cautioning that their influence may further expand due to the Taliban’s inability to exercise full control over the country. Rubio emphasized that the Taliban’s grip on Afghanistan remains incomplete, allowing terrorist organizations to exploit the existing power vacuum and establish operational strongholds. Speaking in an interview with American journalist Catherine Herridge on Thursday, February 20, Rubio pointed out that Washington no longer maintains a physical presence in Afghanistan, significantly limiting its ability to neutralize terrorist threats directly.
Reflecting on the period before the Taliban’s return to power, he noted that U.S. forces primarily targeted Taliban and Al-Qaeda elements in an effort to curb their influence. “Whenever a territory experiences a governance vacuum, and a ruling power fails to establish comprehensive control over its land, groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS inevitably seize the opportunity to entrench themselves,” Rubio explained. He also acknowledged that on certain occasions, the United States has engaged with the Taliban in counterterrorism efforts, particularly to dismantle ISIS hideouts in Afghanistan. However, he stressed that the Taliban’s cooperation in such operations has been inconsistent at best.
Expressing deep concern over the persistent presence of ISIS in both Afghanistan and Syria, Rubio described the situation as a serious and escalating threat to regional stability. His remarks align with a recent United Nations Security Council report, which warned of a surge in terrorist activities across Afghanistan. The report confirmed that ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and other militant groups remain active within the country, with some factions allegedly receiving covert support from the Taliban.
