"There's a greater danger from ISIS and al Qaeda and all these affiliates in other countries by far than there is from Afghanistan," he said last week. The UN report said that "contacts between al-Qaida and the Haqqani Network—including the Taliban's deputy leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani—remain particularly close. ISIS and the Taliban: Mutual loathingWhile the Taliban's connections with al Qaeda endure, both groups loathe ISIS, which has tried to establish a foothold in Afghanistan. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that the threat of ISIS in Afghanistan is "acute" and "persistent." Morale boosterAt the very least, the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban has boosted morale among al Qaeda sympathizers.

Source: CNN August 26, 2021 07:56 UTC