The TV specials for the Sept. 11 anniversary offer any number of ways to return to hell. There are wrenching interviews with survivors and with those whose loved ones died; uplifting stories of rescues and agonizing stories of those who perished in the attempt; footage of the conflagration, chaos and shock, as seen on morning newscasts and in the ash-blanketed streets; images of the first responders and volunteers digging through wreckage.

A clarification: I actually took those descriptions from this newspaper’s review programming for the 10th anniversary. But they apply just as well this year, for the 20th.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-911-changed-air-travel-more-security-less-privacy-411141">How 9/11 changed air travel: More security, less privacy</a>

In documentary after documentary, on cable, streaming and broadcast, you can hear, over and over, the air traffic-control distress calls. You can see, again and again, the stunning footage of an airliner slamming into the north tower of the World Trade Center, captured by a documentary filmmaker accompanying firefighters on a routine call. You can be reminded, time after heartbreaking time, what a beautiful, blue-sky September morning it was.

The interview subjects have aged. Time has passed. The children who fled schools or lost parents that morning are now grown adults. (Two documentaries, on the History Channel and Discovery+, focus on them.) But the story, as told, is mostly the same.

Twenty years later, is there anything still to say about Sept. 11? Of course; it would be unimaginable to simply ignore it. A tougher question is: Is there anything&nbsp;more&nbsp;to say than there was five, 10, 15 years ago?

There is. But actually saying it can be riskier.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/freedom-tower-the-skyscraper-symbolising-new-yorks-resilience-411055">'Freedom Tower' - the skyscraper symbolising New York's resilience</a>

TV’s treatment of Sept. 11 has changed over the years, in bits and pieces. The adrenaline rush of “24” gave way to the moral grayscale of “Homeland.” MSNBC finally ended its grim tradition of replaying the live coverage of the attacks. But the general approach of the memorial specials, tightly focused on honouring the loss and sacrifice of one discrete day, has kept a kind of ritual familiarity.

For 20 years, the refrain has been: Remember, remember, remember. Memory is so ingrained in the language of Sept. 11 — “Never forget” — as to imply that it is obligatory, and sufficient, for future generations merely to remember by revisiting the narrative and imagery of one terrible day, rather than to connect it to the years of history that followed.

But is Sept. 11 simply a day, or is it an era? Was it the beginning of something or a continuation? You can divide most of the anniversary specials between those that focus closely on the day that the towers fell and those that pull back, way back, to look at what emerged from the dust.

There are plenty of the former kind. On National Geographic, the four-part series “9/11: One Day in America” reassembles in granular detail the horrific experience of that morning. (It’s streaming on Hulu — all the programs mentioned here are currently streaming unless otherwise noted.) A special episode of “60 Minutes,” premiering Sept. 12, revisits the stories of firefighters who survived the catastrophe, and those who didn’t.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twenty-years-on-pandemic-gives-911-conspiracists-fresh-impetus-411061">Twenty years on, pandemic gives 9/11 conspiracists fresh impetus</a>

Apple TV+’s “9/11: Inside the President’s War Room” interviews George W. Bush and former members of his staff about the decisions and chaos of that morning, with scant reference to any decisions — say, the invasion of Iraq — that followed. And the seven hours of new 9/11 programming on the History Channel include “9/11: Four Flights,” about the aircraft that crashed into the towers, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, and “9/11: I Was There,” based on amateur video (both premiere on Sept. 11).

These remember-the-day documentaries tend to be heartfelt and reverent; they are often meticulously researched and assembled. (I cannot speak for “Long Island Medium: In Memory of 9/11,” the TLC special, premiering Thursday, that promises to bring families messages from the spirits of their lost loved ones.) They have the benefit of two decades of fact-finding. But for years now, it has been hard for anything to match the immediacy and urgency of “9/11,” the film by Gédéon and Jules Naudet — the brothers whose intended firefighter documentary produced that famous tower-impact shot — which aired on CBS in 2002. (CNN will re-air it on Sunday.)

Focusing on the emotion and heroism of one day, of course, avoids getting ensnared in everything that came after. It sticks to what we can all agree on. It’s safer, in the way that it’s safer to teach the Civil War or Jim Crow as horrors of the past instead of events on a continuum that reaches into the present.

The other approach is to decide that 20 years, a full generation, is long enough to treat the terror attacks as part of a larger historical era.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/911-attacks-us-president-moves-to-declassify-documents-as-20th-anniversary-approaches-410579">9/11 attacks: US president moves to declassify documents as 20th anniversary approaches</a>

Sept. 11 is not only in the past, as you can see in the bloody news from Afghanistan. For viewers who want to unpack how the attacks led to two decades of military entanglements, there’s Netflix’s five-part “Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror,” which looks unsparingly at the intelligence failures before Sept. 11 and the mission creep through multiple administrations. Enlighteningly, it includes the voices of Afghan leaders and civilians. Sept. 11, as an epoch, meant upheaval for more than one nation.

But the history of Sept. 11 goes far beyond war and foreign policy. It affected domestic politics, domestic enmities and even American culture.

And two of the anniversary’s most striking documentaries present Sept. 11 as an event that struck at America’s democracy and even its soul.

The “Frontline” special “America After 9/11,” premiering Tuesday on PBS, is driven by a striking video juxtaposition. First, on the Capitol steps the day of the attacks, a chorus of members of Congress, Republican and Democratic, senators and representatives, join to sing “God Bless America.” Two decades later, on the same site, a mob besieges Congress in an attempt to overturn the results of an election.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blame-for-afghanistan-lies-on-president-biden-says-911-era-nypd-commissioner-410532">Exclusive: Blame for Afghanistan 'lies on President Biden', says 9/11-era NYPD commissioner&nbsp;</a>

It’s a provocative connection, but filmmaker Michael Kirk lays it out economically: The attacks set off a chain of action and changes — military quagmires, suspicion and racism at home, the loss of trust in institutions — that demagogues used to undermine democracy, and that fulfilled Osama bin Laden’s goal of dividing and weakening America.

From the beginning, the special argues, America’s response was driven by paradox: the moral rhetoric of Bush and the strategies of his vice president, Dick Cheney, who said that America would need to work with “the dark side” to survive.

The dark side won, “America After 9/11” argues. It won when specious claims of weapons of mass destruction rationalized war in Iraq; when images of torture emerged from Abu Ghraib prison; when illustrations of Barack Obama as bin Laden circulated; when the media fed hysteria about terror threats; and when the 2016 election was won by a candidate who said, “I think Islam hates us” and used similar rhetoric for people he labelled domestic enemies.

In this light, the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol — with its racist language and its fantasy of reclaiming America from a shadowy existential threat — was, says former Obama aide Ben Rhodes, “the logical endpoint” of the 9/11 era.

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But the most sweeping — and, I expect, ultimately the most memorable — of this year’s documentaries is Spike Lee’s elegiac, messy and feisty “NYC Epicenters: 9/11-2021½,” airing in four parts on HBO.

As the title suggests, “Epicenters” is only partly about 9/11, and it makes a strong case that the 9/11 era can only be captured with the widest lens. It works backwards, starting from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19 pandemic</a> and moving — through Black Lives Matter, the 2016 and 2020 elections and more — to its starting point. In Lee’s telling, Sept. 11 is not just a matter of terrorism, but also the opening act to decades of calamity and uproar.

If it seems like a stretch, “Epicenters” soon makes it difficult to see the subject otherwise, drawing connection after connection across the years. There is Rudy Giuliani, “America’s Mayor” in the days after the towers fell, spouting election-hoax fan fiction at Four Seasons Total Landscaping. There is the rash of Islamophobic attacks after Sept. 11, echoing in the xenophobia of the Trump era. There are emergency medical workers suffering from 9/11-related illnesses that loom as preexisting conditions during the pandemic.

Sept. 11, in Lee’s telling, is itself a preexisting condition. It is not a one-time injury but a chronic affliction, and other, pre-preexisting conditions express themselves through it as well. New York came back from it, and, “Epicenters” insists, it will come back from COVID. But in his crowning image, Lee likens that comeback to Marlon Brando’s bloodied stagger at the end of “On the Waterfront.” Each blow leaves a mark.

“Epicenters” uses clips from a lot of films to evoke the city, from “On the Town” to the 1976 remake of “King Kong” to Lee’s own work. Lee’s memory of New York, like many people’s, is a blend of lived experience and fantasy. And sometimes the exaggerated language of film is the only thing that can capture larger-than-life experience; as the series notes, people describe Sept. 11, over and over, as being “like a movie.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-spike-lee-re-edits-9-11-documentary-featuring-conspiracy-theorists-408396">Spike Lee re-edits 9-11 documentary featuring conspiracy theorists</a>

Lee’s interviews — with hundreds of people, from high elected officials to heavy-equipment operators at ground zero — are warm, emotional, sometimes sparring. He ribs every Boston Red Sox fan he talks to; when his subjects need time to collect themselves, he lets the moments play out. For politicians, he lets the raspberries fly freely (the captions refer to Donald Trump, in the words of the rapper Busta Rhymes, as “President Agent Orange”).

One could argue over which director is most essentially New York. But Lee’s passionate heckler’s breed of New York-ness may be the best suited to this subject. He is loving and critical, impulses that New Yorkers know as synonyms. And his focus on diversity and race helps him find less-heard voices in a much-told story, like those of the Vulcan Society for Black firefighters, or of the Black flight attendant who guiltily recalls “racially profiling” a Saudi passenger after Sept. 11.

Unfortunately, “Epicenters” has made the most news for what you won’t see in it: an extended, bizarre section in the original final episode that gave credence to the conspiracists who theorize that the towers were brought down by a controlled explosion. Lee snipped the entire section, and despite the blunt edit, the shorter final cut, which premieres on Sept. 11, actually flows better.

I could imagine a version of “Epicenters” that still covered the conspiracy theories, not to legitimize them, but as an example of the paranoia that thrives in a country lacking social trust — which Lee rightly deplores when it comes to anti-vaccine theories and the election hoaxes that drove some of the Capitol assailants.

There’s a sobering meta-lesson in the fact that the most artful of this season’s Sept. 11 documentaries became an example of one of the very problems it diagnosed. But at least the resolution shows that criticism can make a difference, and that it’s not too late to look at history seriously and make a change.

The TV specials for the Sept. 11 anniversary offer any number of ways to return to hell. There are wrenching interviews with survivors and with those whose loved ones died; uplifting stories of rescues and agonizing stories of those who perished in the attempt; footage of the conflagration, chaos and shock, as seen on morning newscasts and in the ash-blanketed streets; images of the first responders and volunteers digging through wreckage.

The TV specials for the Sept. 11 anniversary offer any number of ways to return to hell. There are wrenching interviews with survivors and with those whose loved ones died; uplifting stories of rescues and agonizing stories of those who perished in the attempt; footage of the conflagration, chaos and shock, as seen on morning newscasts and in the ash-blanketed streets; images of the first responders and volunteers digging through wreckage. A clarification: I actually took those descriptions from this newspaper’s review programming for the 10th anniversary. But they apply just as well this year, for the 20th. Also read | How 9/11 changed air travel: More security, less privacy In documentary after documentary, on cable, streaming and broadcast, you can hear, over and over, the air traffic-control distress calls. You can see, again and again, the stunning footage of an airliner slamming into the north tower of the World Trade Center, captured by a documentary filmmaker accompanying firefighters on a routine call. You can be reminded, time after heartbreaking time, what a beautiful, blue-sky September morning it was. The interview subjects have aged. Time has passed. The children who fled schools or lost parents that morning are now grown adults. (Two documentaries, on the History Channel and Discovery+, focus on them.) But the story, as told, is mostly the same. Twenty years later, is there anything still to say about Sept. 11? Of course; it would be unimaginable to simply ignore it. A tougher question is: Is there anything more to say than there was five, 10, 15 years ago? There is. But actually saying it can be riskier. Also read | 'Freedom Tower' - the skyscraper symbolising New York's resilience TV’s treatment of Sept. 11 has changed over the years, in bits and pieces. The adrenaline rush of “24” gave way to the moral grayscale of “Homeland.” MSNBC finally ended its grim tradition of replaying the live coverage of the attacks. But the general approach of the memorial specials, tightly focused on honouring the loss and sacrifice of one discrete day, has kept a kind of ritual familiarity. For 20 years, the refrain has been: Remember, remember, remember. Memory is so ingrained in the language of Sept. 11 — “Never forget” — as to imply that it is obligatory, and sufficient, for future generations merely to remember by revisiting the narrative and imagery of one terrible day, rather than to connect it to the years of history that followed. But is Sept. 11 simply a day, or is it an era? Was it the beginning of something or a continuation? You can divide most of the anniversary specials between those that focus closely on the day that the towers fell and those that pull back, way back, to look at what emerged from the dust. There are plenty of the former kind. On National Geographic, the four-part series “9/11: One Day in America” reassembles in granular detail the horrific experience of that morning. (It’s streaming on Hulu — all the programs mentioned here are currently streaming unless otherwise noted.) A special episode of “60 Minutes,” premiering Sept. 12, revisits the stories of firefighters who survived the catastrophe, and those who didn’t. Also read | Twenty years on, pandemic gives 9/11 conspiracists fresh impetus Apple TV+’s “9/11: Inside the President’s War Room” interviews George W. Bush and former members of his staff about the decisions and chaos of that morning, with scant reference to any decisions — say, the invasion of Iraq — that followed. And the seven hours of new 9/11 programming on the History Channel include “9/11: Four Flights,” about the aircraft that crashed into the towers, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, and “9/11: I Was There,” based on amateur video (both premiere on Sept. 11). These remember-the-day documentaries tend to be heartfelt and reverent; they are often meticulously researched and assembled. (I cannot speak for “Long Island Medium: In Memory of 9/11,” the TLC special, premiering Thursday, that promises to bring families messages from the spirits of their lost loved ones.) They have the benefit of two decades of fact-finding. But for years now, it has been hard for anything to match the immediacy and urgency of “9/11,” the film by Gédéon and Jules Naudet — the brothers whose intended firefighter documentary produced that famous tower-impact shot — which aired on CBS in 2002. (CNN will re-air it on Sunday.) Focusing on the emotion and heroism of one day, of course, avoids getting ensnared in everything that came after. It sticks to what we can all agree on. It’s safer, in the way that it’s safer to teach the Civil War or Jim Crow as horrors of the past instead of events on a continuum that reaches into the present. The other approach is to decide that 20 years, a full generation, is long enough to treat the terror attacks as part of a larger historical era. Also read | 9/11 attacks: US president moves to declassify documents as 20th anniversary approaches Sept. 11 is not only in the past, as you can see in the bloody news from Afghanistan. For viewers who want to unpack how the attacks led to two decades of military entanglements, there’s Netflix’s five-part “Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror,” which looks unsparingly at the intelligence failures before Sept. 11 and the mission creep through multiple administrations. Enlighteningly, it includes the voices of Afghan leaders and civilians. Sept. 11, as an epoch, meant upheaval for more than one nation. But the history of Sept. 11 goes far beyond war and foreign policy. It affected domestic politics, domestic enmities and even American culture. And two of the anniversary’s most striking documentaries present Sept. 11 as an event that struck at America’s democracy and even its soul. The “Frontline” special “America After 9/11,” premiering Tuesday on PBS, is driven by a striking video juxtaposition. First, on the Capitol steps the day of the attacks, a chorus of members of Congress, Republican and Democratic, senators and representatives, join to sing “God Bless America.” Two decades later, on the same site, a mob besieges Congress in an attempt to overturn the results of an election. Also read | Exclusive: Blame for Afghanistan 'lies on President Biden', says 9/11-era NYPD commissioner It’s a provocative connection, but filmmaker Michael Kirk lays it out economically: The attacks set off a chain of action and changes — military quagmires, suspicion and racism at home, the loss of trust in institutions — that demagogues used to undermine democracy, and that fulfilled Osama bin Laden’s goal of dividing and weakening America. From the beginning, the special argues, America’s response was driven by paradox: the moral rhetoric of Bush and the strategies of his vice president, Dick Cheney, who said that America would need to work with “the dark side” to survive. The dark side won, “America After 9/11” argues. It won when specious claims of weapons of mass destruction rationalized war in Iraq; when images of torture emerged from Abu Ghraib prison; when illustrations of Barack Obama as bin Laden circulated; when the media fed hysteria about terror threats; and when the 2016 election was won by a candidate who said, “I think Islam hates us” and used similar rhetoric for people he labelled domestic enemies. In this light, the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol — with its racist language and its fantasy of reclaiming America from a shadowy existential threat — was, says former Obama aide Ben Rhodes, “the logical endpoint” of the 9/11 era. But the most sweeping — and, I expect, ultimately the most memorable — of this year’s documentaries is Spike Lee’s elegiac, messy and feisty “NYC Epicenters: 9/11-2021½,” airing in four parts on HBO. As the title suggests, “Epicenters” is only partly about 9/11, and it makes a strong case that the 9/11 era can only be captured with the widest lens. It works backwards, starting from the COVID-19 pandemic and moving — through Black Lives Matter, the 2016 and 2020 elections and more — to its starting point. In Lee’s telling, Sept. 11 is not just a matter of terrorism, but also the opening act to decades of calamity and uproar. If it seems like a stretch, “Epicenters” soon makes it difficult to see the subject otherwise, drawing connection after connection across the years. There is Rudy Giuliani, “America’s Mayor” in the days after the towers fell, spouting election-hoax fan fiction at Four Seasons Total Landscaping. There is the rash of Islamophobic attacks after Sept. 11, echoing in the xenophobia of the Trump era. There are emergency medical workers suffering from 9/11-related illnesses that loom as preexisting conditions during the pandemic. Sept. 11, in Lee’s telling, is itself a preexisting condition. It is not a one-time injury but a chronic affliction, and other, pre-preexisting conditions express themselves through it as well. New York came back from it, and, “Epicenters” insists, it will come back from COVID. But in his crowning image, Lee likens that comeback to Marlon Brando’s bloodied stagger at the end of “On the Waterfront.” Each blow leaves a mark. “Epicenters” uses clips from a lot of films to evoke the city, from “On the Town” to the 1976 remake of “King Kong” to Lee’s own work. Lee’s memory of New York, like many people’s, is a blend of lived experience and fantasy. And sometimes the exaggerated language of film is the only thing that can capture larger-than-life experience; as the series notes, people describe Sept. 11, over and over, as being “like a movie.” Also read | Spike Lee re-edits 9-11 documentary featuring conspiracy theorists Lee’s interviews — with hundreds of people, from high elected officials to heavy-equipment operators at ground zero — are warm, emotional, sometimes sparring. He ribs every Boston Red Sox fan he talks to; when his subjects need time to collect themselves, he lets the moments play out. For politicians, he lets the raspberries fly freely (the captions refer to Donald Trump, in the words of the rapper Busta Rhymes, as “President Agent Orange”). One could argue over which director is most essentially New York. But Lee’s passionate heckler’s breed of New York-ness may be the best suited to this subject. He is loving and critical, impulses that New Yorkers know as synonyms. And his focus on diversity and race helps him find less-heard voices in a much-told story, like those of the Vulcan Society for Black firefighters, or of the Black flight attendant who guiltily recalls “racially profiling” a Saudi passenger after Sept. 11. Unfortunately, “Epicenters” has made the most news for what you won’t see in it: an extended, bizarre section in the original final episode that gave credence to the conspiracists who theorize that the towers were brought down by a controlled explosion. Lee snipped the entire section, and despite the blunt edit, the shorter final cut, which premieres on Sept. 11, actually flows better. I could imagine a version of “Epicenters” that still covered the conspiracy theories, not to legitimize them, but as an example of the paranoia that thrives in a country lacking social trust — which Lee rightly deplores when it comes to anti-vaccine theories and the election hoaxes that drove some of the Capitol assailants. There’s a sobering meta-lesson in the fact that the most artful of this season’s Sept. 11 documentaries became an example of one of the very problems it diagnosed. But at least the resolution shows that criticism can make a difference, and that it’s not too late to look at history seriously and make a change.

Is 9/11 a day, or is it an Era?

As the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 completes 20 years, focus is back on Afghanistan. The hasty withdrawal of American forces from the country has thrown up a challenging situation.

WION's New York Correspondent Susan Tehrani spoke with Bernard Kerik, former commissioner of New York City Police who was on ground when the terrorist attack took place.

WION: You were at the base of the twin towers when the second plane hit on September 11, 2001, and on the days that followed, you lead New York Police Department (NYPD) through the aftermath of 9/11 and so many lives depended on the decisions that you would make so you had really a bird’s eye view of what was happening on ground zero. And here we are 20 years on. Where do we stand now? Considering the fact that President Biden insists that the war in Afghanistan is over.

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Kerik: Well listen, he may think that the war in Afghanistan is over but the war between radical Islam and the West is not. And unfortunately for us, the president has made a decision of allowing close to 200,000 Afghans into the United States that I am confident cannot be valid. (They) cannot be monitored and tracked once they get here and melt into the community.&nbsp;

I was there on Sept 11, I watched dozens of people jumping to death, I had 23 members in my department that I lost. We lost 343 firefighters, 37 police officers and thousands of civilians in the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, and we did so because 19 people got into this country. Now we are gonna have 200,000 people coming out of a country that we have been fighting in for last 20 years.&nbsp;

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You know I watched a press conference today where the commanders and the president said that we will be working with the Taliban to get whoever is left/what Americans left or first of all there should not be any Americans left in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Secondly, there is not negotiating with the Taliban, there is not coordinating with the Taliban, there is no diplomatic relationship with the Taliban and if you don't believe me turn on the news from yesterday and the day before, they were taking a round in Afghanistan with our equipment, our uniforms with flag-draped coffins calling for the death of America. These are the people that the president believes today that we can communicate with. That is the complete joke so you know I used to talk about the threat we face, in over the last 20 years I pretty much said my greatest fear was radical Islam.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-is-our-most-important-partner-says-taliban-spokesperson-zabihullah-mujahid-410510">China is our most important partner, says Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid</a>

I am also afraid of this infusion of socialism coming into the United States right now. But I have never been worried about radical Islam on the inside of this country like I will be now as a result of the incompetence of this leadership and stupidity or a lack of common sense and logic over what has happened over the last two weeks.

WION: A lot of lawmakers also share same sentiments. They say that the president's strategy has been to basically set the condition for another 9/11. I would like to get your opinion on whether or not that is overblown first of all and second he recently said that he has never been worried.

Kerik: Well, listen I would disagree with them if one said that there is strategy because there is no strategy. They did things that were completely...there was a lack of common sense, there was lack of logic, there was lack of policy. What they did that pulling out of Afghanistan before there was a removal of diplomatic personnel, a lot of coordinators and co-operators, from the Afghan military or intrepreters who put their lives for us for 20 years, for this president. In fact, the interpreters that were with him were left in the country. So, there was no real plan. And although I don't always agree with Senator Graham, this time 100 percent I agree. We are now going to face a substantial threat as a result for what happened. And I heard within the last 2-3 hours now United States’ military equipment has been observed in Iran, this is outragious. This is completely outragious and stupid. It should have never happened. And it all lies on President Biden.

WION: There was a question now whether or not ISIS is the new Al-Qaeda

Kerik: There is a bottom line. I don't call them ISIS/ Al-Qaeda/ Hamas. I can give you 30 different names. There is a bottom line. There is a group of people in the Middle East that despises our freedom and they strongly believe that if we don't pray to their God the way they do than they actually have the right to kill us.&nbsp;

These are the same people who gonna blow off Israel off the map and they will like to do the same with our county as well. That is the threat we face. These days I don't care what their names are. I don't care if it is ISIS or Al-Qaeda or the Taliban or whatever. It doesn't make any difference to me. The bottom line is that the threat is still there. It is the threat that we going to face and now as a result of what happened in Afghanistan, it is going to be worse than we had to deal in last 20 years.

WION: I want to go back when you were there on ground zero when the planes hit the World Trade Centre 20 years ago and now we hear army general, for example, acknowledged the fact that the Taliban might be ruthless but we don't cooperate with them on counter-terrorism issues. What goes on your mind when you hear something like that?

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Kerik: General Milley can't believe that and if he does, he is a moron. And with his mind, his education, his experiences, his time in service, he cannot believe that. And if he does, he should not be in the job in the first place. He is basically echoing the radical that the White House is talking about. He is just repeating that the president, his press secretary is saying. But for God’s sake I cannot believe that General Milley actually believes that because if he does, we are in a lot of problem that I anticipate.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-co-founder-mullah-abdul-ghani-baradar-to-lead-new-afghan-government-sources-410403">Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to lead new Afghan government: Sources</a>

WION: Do you think that the president is facing the crisis of confidence right now with the American public and the lawmakers on both sides criticising his policies?

Kerik: I think the president is facing lack of confidence from the first day he has taken over the office. This is in my opinion. And I think most people will agree with me. Take away the politics. I have been watching/ listening to him. There are two problems I have. One, he has a lack of mental and physical capabilities. He is not controlling his own destiny. And I know that we all know that. Because he tells us.&nbsp;

There are all these slips over the podium right. 'I was told I can't take questions; I was told not to answer that question, I was told we are not going to do this/that. I am not allowed to take that question'. This is my problem with him, this the President of the United States. I wanna know who is controlling him. Who tells him that you are not allowed to do that. Who told him who are not allowed ro take questions.&nbsp;

I promise you I want to see somebody telling President Trump you are not allowed to do that or you are not going to do that or don't do this. One, the person will be fired. Two, he is gonna do what he is supposed to do. This president gets on the podium and consistently, over and over again tells us he is not in charge. So okay I wanna know who he is.

WION: Commissioner, what went through your head, when you were present there on September 11, 2001? When you were there on ground zero at that moment?

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Kerik: Well, when the first plane hit, I was actually in my office. I got down to the streets in 7 to 8 minutes. And as I tried getting to World Trade Centre, I watched people jump to death from tower one.&nbsp;

While I was waiting for the mayor, the second plane slammed through the north side of the tower and at that point, I understood that we were under attack. And at that point the city’s response changed. It went through responding to a crisis. Accident to an attack on the United States of America. What went through my mind immediately after the second plane hit that how many planes were there. What are the buildings, targets will be (attacked). I remember closing down police headquarters, city hall, the United Nations, other places/ areas that could be on target and calling on the White House, asking for support so those are some of the things that went through my mind immediately in the aftermath when second plane hit.

WION: Your final thoughts on where do we go from here 20 years on from September 11th, 2021?

Kerik: We need to reflect back on the leadership. We have to reflect back on the leadership of (former) Mayor Rudy Giuliani, President Bush and what I try to do is remind there were people who did not leave New York City that day, remind them about the men and women of the New York City police dept etc. They affected the greatest rescue operation in the history for us. They took 20,000-25,000 people out of those buildings, out of those surrounding areas and they evacuated more than a million people. This feat has not been accomplished before. I hope this never happens again.&nbsp;

I would like to say this. We don't need four planes flying into country to create another threat like 9/11. There is a possibility people not liking this country to create the same amount of fear, same amount of economic damage to this country by doing another thing that can happen. And you know I am just hoping the intelligence community/ military is up to the task.

As the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 completes 20 years, focus is back on Afghanistan. The hasty withdrawal of American forces from the country has thrown up a challenging situation.

As the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 completes 20 years, focus is back on Afghanistan. The hasty withdrawal of American forces from the country has thrown up a challenging situation. WION's New York Correspondent Susan Tehrani spoke with Bernard Kerik, former commissioner of New York City Police who was on ground when the terrorist attack took place. WION: You were at the base of the twin towers when the second plane hit on September 11, 2001, and on the days that followed, you lead New York Police Department (NYPD) through the aftermath of 9/11 and so many lives depended on the decisions that you would make so you had really a bird’s eye view of what was happening on ground zero. And here we are 20 years on. Where do we stand now? Considering the fact that President Biden insists that the war in Afghanistan is over. Kerik: Well listen, he may think that the war in Afghanistan is over but the war between radical Islam and the West is not. And unfortunately for us, the president has made a decision of allowing close to 200,000 Afghans into the United States that I am confident cannot be valid. (They) cannot be monitored and tracked once they get here and melt into the community. I was there on Sept 11, I watched dozens of people jumping to death, I had 23 members in my department that I lost. We lost 343 firefighters, 37 police officers and thousands of civilians in the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, and we did so because 19 people got into this country. Now we are gonna have 200,000 people coming out of a country that we have been fighting in for last 20 years. × You know I watched a press conference today where the commanders and the president said that we will be working with the Taliban to get whoever is left/what Americans left or first of all there should not be any Americans left in Afghanistan. Secondly, there is not negotiating with the Taliban, there is not coordinating with the Taliban, there is no diplomatic relationship with the Taliban and if you don't believe me turn on the news from yesterday and the day before, they were taking a round in Afghanistan with our equipment, our uniforms with flag-draped coffins calling for the death of America. These are the people that the president believes today that we can communicate with. That is the complete joke so you know I used to talk about the threat we face, in over the last 20 years I pretty much said my greatest fear was radical Islam. Also Read | China is our most important partner, says Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid I am also afraid of this infusion of socialism coming into the United States right now. But I have never been worried about radical Islam on the inside of this country like I will be now as a result of the incompetence of this leadership and stupidity or a lack of common sense and logic over what has happened over the last two weeks. WION: A lot of lawmakers also share same sentiments. They say that the president's strategy has been to basically set the condition for another 9/11. I would like to get your opinion on whether or not that is overblown first of all and second he recently said that he has never been worried. Kerik: Well, listen I would disagree with them if one said that there is strategy because there is no strategy. They did things that were completely...there was a lack of common sense, there was lack of logic, there was lack of policy. What they did that pulling out of Afghanistan before there was a removal of diplomatic personnel, a lot of coordinators and co-operators, from the Afghan military or intrepreters who put their lives for us for 20 years, for this president. In fact, the interpreters that were with him were left in the country. So, there was no real plan. And although I don't always agree with Senator Graham, this time 100 percent I agree. We are now going to face a substantial threat as a result for what happened. And I heard within the last 2-3 hours now United States’ military equipment has been observed in Iran, this is outragious. This is completely outragious and stupid. It should have never happened. And it all lies on President Biden. WION: There was a question now whether or not ISIS is the new Al-Qaeda Kerik: There is a bottom line. I don't call them ISIS/ Al-Qaeda/ Hamas. I can give you 30 different names. There is a bottom line. There is a group of people in the Middle East that despises our freedom and they strongly believe that if we don't pray to their God the way they do than they actually have the right to kill us. These are the same people who gonna blow off Israel off the map and they will like to do the same with our county as well. That is the threat we face. These days I don't care what their names are. I don't care if it is ISIS or Al-Qaeda or the Taliban or whatever. It doesn't make any difference to me. The bottom line is that the threat is still there. It is the threat that we going to face and now as a result of what happened in Afghanistan, it is going to be worse than we had to deal in last 20 years. WION: I want to go back when you were there on ground zero when the planes hit the World Trade Centre 20 years ago and now we hear army general, for example, acknowledged the fact that the Taliban might be ruthless but we don't cooperate with them on counter-terrorism issues. What goes on your mind when you hear something like that? Kerik: General Milley can't believe that and if he does, he is a moron. And with his mind, his education, his experiences, his time in service, he cannot believe that. And if he does, he should not be in the job in the first place. He is basically echoing the radical that the White House is talking about. He is just repeating that the president, his press secretary is saying. But for God’s sake I cannot believe that General Milley actually believes that because if he does, we are in a lot of problem that I anticipate. Also Read | Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to lead new Afghan government: Sources WION: Do you think that the president is facing the crisis of confidence right now with the American public and the lawmakers on both sides criticising his policies? Kerik: I think the president is facing lack of confidence from the first day he has taken over the office. This is in my opinion. And I think most people will agree with me. Take away the politics. I have been watching/ listening to him. There are two problems I have. One, he has a lack of mental and physical capabilities. He is not controlling his own destiny. And I know that we all know that. Because he tells us. There are all these slips over the podium right. 'I was told I can't take questions; I was told not to answer that question, I was told we are not going to do this/that. I am not allowed to take that question'. This is my problem with him, this the President of the United States. I wanna know who is controlling him. Who tells him that you are not allowed to do that. Who told him who are not allowed ro take questions. I promise you I want to see somebody telling President Trump you are not allowed to do that or you are not going to do that or don't do this. One, the person will be fired. Two, he is gonna do what he is supposed to do. This president gets on the podium and consistently, over and over again tells us he is not in charge. So okay I wanna know who he is. WION: Commissioner, what went through your head, when you were present there on September 11, 2001? When you were there on ground zero at that moment? Kerik: Well, when the first plane hit, I was actually in my office. I got down to the streets in 7 to 8 minutes. And as I tried getting to World Trade Centre, I watched people jump to death from tower one. While I was waiting for the mayor, the second plane slammed through the north side of the tower and at that point, I understood that we were under attack. And at that point the city’s response changed. It went through responding to a crisis. Accident to an attack on the United States of America. What went through my mind immediately after the second plane hit that how many planes were there. What are the buildings, targets will be (attacked). I remember closing down police headquarters, city hall, the United Nations, other places/ areas that could be on target and calling on the White House, asking for support so those are some of the things that went through my mind immediately in the aftermath when second plane hit. WION: Your final thoughts on where do we go from here 20 years on from September 11th, 2021? Kerik: We need to reflect back on the leadership. We have to reflect back on the leadership of (former) Mayor Rudy Giuliani, President Bush and what I try to do is remind there were people who did not leave New York City that day, remind them about the men and women of the New York City police dept etc. They affected the greatest rescue operation in the history for us. They took 20,000-25,000 people out of those buildings, out of those surrounding areas and they evacuated more than a million people. This feat has not been accomplished before. I hope this never happens again. I would like to say this. We don't need four planes flying into country to create another threat like 9/11. There is a possibility people not liking this country to create the same amount of fear, same amount of economic damage to this country by doing another thing that can happen. And you know I am just hoping the intelligence community/ military is up to the task.

Exclusive: Blame for Afghanistan 'lies on President Biden', says 9/11-era NYPD commissioner 

The top Unites States Army General, Mark Milley, has warned of an imminent civil war in Afghanistan, saying that the conditions are ripe for the “resurgence of terrorist groups” in the country.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said if the Taliban cannot consolidate power, then al Qaeda and the Islamic State will most likely take control of the region.

“My military estimate... is that the conditions are likely to develop of a civil war,” Milley told Fox News.

He raised doubts whether the Taliban, who are yet to declare a government, would be able to consolidate power and establish effective governance in the region.

"I think there's at least a very good probability of a broader civil war and that will then, in turn, lead to conditions that could, in fact, lead to a reconstitution of al-Qaida or a growth of ISIS or other ... terrorist groups," Milley said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/genocide-in-making-afghan-ex-vp-calls-on-un-to-end-talibans-onslaught-into-panjshir-province-410875">'Genocide in making': Afghan ex-VP calls on UN to end 'Taliban’s onslaught into Panjshir province'</a>

Giving a bleak assessment of what could transpire in the upcoming months, he said, “The conditions are very likely that you could see a resurgence of terrorism coming out of that general region within 12, 24, 36 months.”

The comments from the top military officer come even as the Taliban and the resistance forces are battling to control the Panjshir Valley north of Kabul, the last Afghan province resisting the&nbsp;Islamist group.

Watch

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There have been reports that 600 Taliban have been killed in Panjshir Valley while more than 1,000 Taliban have been captured. This comes after the Taliban claimed victory over the region.

A Taliban source said fighting was continuing in Panjshir but the advance had been slowed by landmines placed on the road to the capital Bazarak and the provincial governor's compound, reported Al Jazeera.

(With inputs from agencies)

The top Unites States Army General, Mark Milley, has warned of an imminent civil war in Afghanistan, saying that the conditions are ripe for the “resurgence of terrorist groups” in the country.

The top Unites States Army General, Mark Milley, has warned of an imminent civil war in Afghanistan, saying that the conditions are ripe for the “resurgence of terrorist groups” in the country. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said if the Taliban cannot consolidate power, then al Qaeda and the Islamic State will most likely take control of the region. “My military estimate... is that the conditions are likely to develop of a civil war,” Milley told Fox News. He raised doubts whether the Taliban, who are yet to declare a government, would be able to consolidate power and establish effective governance in the region. "I think there's at least a very good probability of a broader civil war and that will then, in turn, lead to conditions that could, in fact, lead to a reconstitution of al-Qaida or a growth of ISIS or other ... terrorist groups," Milley said. Also read | 'Genocide in making': Afghan ex-VP calls on UN to end 'Taliban’s onslaught into Panjshir province' Giving a bleak assessment of what could transpire in the upcoming months, he said, “The conditions are very likely that you could see a resurgence of terrorism coming out of that general region within 12, 24, 36 months.” The comments from the top military officer come even as the Taliban and the resistance forces are battling to control the Panjshir Valley north of Kabul, the last Afghan province resisting the Islamist group. Watch There have been reports that 600 Taliban have been killed in Panjshir Valley while more than 1,000 Taliban have been captured. This comes after the Taliban claimed victory over the region. A Taliban source said fighting was continuing in Panjshir but the advance had been slowed by landmines placed on the road to the capital Bazarak and the provincial governor's compound, reported Al Jazeera. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan: Top US General warns of civil war, says al Qaeda, ISIS may grow

Former Commissioner of New York city police dept., Bernard Kerik spoke to WION on 9/11 attacks. 'Í lost 23 people from my dept during 9/11 attacks.' He also blamed President Biden for the present Afghan crisis.

Former Commissioner of New York city police dept., Bernard Kerik speaks on 9/11 attacks

Al-Qaeda congratulated the Taliban on their victory in Afghanistan, saying it is time for the next stage of jihad. The terror group also called for the liberation of Levant, Somalia, Yemen and Kashmir. How will the Taliban respond? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Al-Qaeda calls for liberation of Kashmir

A terror regrouping is underway in Kabul. Terrorists of all hues are trying to make the fallen capital their base. Orchestrating this regrouping is Pakistan's deep state led by the ISI. Palki Sharma tells you how.

Gravitas: Pakistan orchestrates terror regrouping in Kabul

The US and NATO military invaded Afghanistan 20 years ago. The most mighty force on the planet aimed to expel both the Taliban and Al-Qaeda from the country. It turns out that it was just a daydream. 20 years on the humiliating departure of the US forces has come as a massive morale boost to terrorists all over the world.

Will Afghanistan become a safe haven for terror?

Abu Omar Khorasani was taken from Kabul’s Pul-i-Charkhi prison and unceremoniously shot. The first and only person to have been executed since the Taliban gained full control of Afghanistan, Mr Khorasani was the head of the Islamic State in South Asia until he was arrested by government forces last year.

The precise circumstances of his execution are not known. His killing was, however, at least in part designed to send a message to the international community, and particularly Afghanistan’s neighbours, including China and Iran, as well as Russia, Central Asia’s security overlord.

The message was that the Taliban were cracking down on foreign jihadists and militants in Afghanistan. Mr Khorasani was an easy symbol. The Taliban and the Islamic State, whose ranks of foreigners are primarily populated by Pakistanis and a sprinkling of Central Asians, Uighurs, Russians, Turks, Iranians, Indonesians, Indians, and Frenchmen, have long been adversarial. The Islamic State recently accused the Taliban of being more nationalist than pious in their negotiations with the United States.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/opinion-return-of-taliban-what-does-it-mean-for-india-and-the-world-406612">Opinion | Return of Taliban: What does it mean for India and the World?</a>

The Taliban message is a partial truth at best. What is true for the Islamic State is not true for Al-Qaeda and others such as the Uighur Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

The Taliban appear to believe that they can get away with the differentiation because they perceived the United States as more focused in the withdrawal negotiations on ensuring that the Islamic State, Al-Qaeda, and other militants will not be allowed to use Afghanistan as a base for international operations rather than on getting them expelled from the country.

The perceived US focus may have been rooted in a concern that if Taliban’s hands were forced, they would let militants slip out of the country and not hand them over to authorities. That would make it difficult to control their movements or ensure that they are either entered into deradicalization programs or, if warranted, brought to justice.

“It’s a Catch-22. The Taliban ensuring that Al Qaeda sticks to rule risks putting a fox in charge of the chicken coop. How much better that is than having foxes run wild remains to be seen,” said a retired counter-terrorism official.

Officials of the Trump administration that negotiated the agreement suggest that the continued presence of Al-Qaeda and other militants in Afghanistan would violate the accord with the Taliban.

Former US Vice President Mike Pence as well as Trump era State Department counterterrorism coordinator Nathan Sales argued that the deal “required the Taliban…to refuse terrorists safe harbour.”

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-too-big-for-pakistan-to-swallow-says-self-proclaimed-president-amarullah-saleh-406900">Afghanistan too big for Pakistan to swallow, says self-proclaimed president Amarullah Saleh</a>

Russia and China, while publicly more measured in their statements, are likely to share western concerns.&nbsp;Russia held military drills earlier this month with Tajik and Uzbek troops in Tajikistan, 20 kilometres from the border with Afghanistan.

Al-Qaeda may have been boosted in recent weeks by multiple prison breaks in which the Taliban freed operatives of Al-Qaeda and other militant groups. It remains unclear however to what degree the breaks will help the group strengthen its presence in Afghanistan.

General Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned this week that Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State could quickly rebuild their networks in Afghanistan.

The United Nations recently reported that Al-Qaeda “is present in at least 15 Afghan provinces”, and that its affiliate in the Indian subcontinent, “operates under Taliban protection from Kandahar, Helmand and Nimruz provinces.”&nbsp;

“Without information on who exactly escaped, it is difficult to determine whether historically significant figures remain within AQ’s AfPak network, or if it is mainly composed of newer figures these days, whether local or regional foreign fighters,” cautioned political violence scholar Aaron Y. Zelin. Mr Zelin was referring to Al-Qaeda’s Afghanistan-Pakistan network.

Also unclear is whether Al-Qaeda operatives in Iran will be allowed to relocate to Afghanistan. 
The prison breaks further go to concerns about relying on the Taliban to police jihadists and other militants with aspirations beyond Afghanistan’s borders. Of particular concern is the fact that the balance of power has yet to be determined between Taliban leaders who in recent days have been eager to put a more moderate, accommodating foot forward with security guarantees for their opponents, minorities and women and the group’s far-flung less polished rank and file.

The concern about the Taliban’s ability and willingness to control militant activity on Afghan soil is magnified by worry regarding the continued existence of warlords with the power to organise violence, provide jobs and public services, and forge or strengthen ties with militants.

“Warlords will play an active role in the future of Afghanistan. They will remain businessmen and political leaders, connected to global economic processes and networks. They will develop the military power that they need to control territory and wage war. They will, finally, continue to fight for more autonomy and, in some cases, might even manage to partially form their old regional polities once again,” said Romain Malejacq, author of a book on Afghan warlords.

“Afghanistan’s availability as a sanctuary for terrorists is, to say the least, related to its status as a warlord-ridden wasteland,” said journalist and author Graeme Wood.

The Taliban’s refusal to expel militants not only complicates the group’s efforts to garner legitimacy in the international community and particularly its neighbours, even if Al-Qaeda has been significantly weakened since 9/11 and is less focussed on attacking the United States and more on the Muslim world.

It also strengthens those who fear that Afghanistan will again emerge as a launching pad for trans-national political violence. “We are going to go back to a pre-9/11 state—a breeding ground for terrorism,” warned Michael McCaul, the ranking Republican member of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee. “They (the Taliban) will not restrict terrorist groups, just ask them to operate low-key,” added Douglas London, a former head of CIA counterterrorism operations for South and Southwest Asia.

The Taliban proved already 20 years ago that they valued loyalty when they rejected US and Saudi pressure to hand over Osama bin Laden no matter the cost. The Taliban have since come to appreciate Al Qaeda’s fighting skills and contributions to the Afghan militants’ cause.

Taliban fighters this week, in a violation of their pledge to inclusiveness, demonstrated their ideological anti-Shiite affinity with Al-Qaeda by blowing up a statue of Abdul Ali Mazari, a Shiite Hazara militia leader killed by the Taliban when they first took power in 1996.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Abu Omar Khorasani was taken from Kabul’s Pul-i-Charkhi prison and unceremoniously shot. The first and only person to have been executed since the Taliban gained full control of Afghanistan, Mr Khorasani was the head of the Islamic State in South Asia until he was arrested by government forces last year.

Abu Omar Khorasani was taken from Kabul’s Pul-i-Charkhi prison and unceremoniously shot. The first and only person to have been executed since the Taliban gained full control of Afghanistan, Mr Khorasani was the head of the Islamic State in South Asia until he was arrested by government forces last year. The precise circumstances of his execution are not known. His killing was, however, at least in part designed to send a message to the international community, and particularly Afghanistan’s neighbours, including China and Iran, as well as Russia, Central Asia’s security overlord. The message was that the Taliban were cracking down on foreign jihadists and militants in Afghanistan. Mr Khorasani was an easy symbol. The Taliban and the Islamic State, whose ranks of foreigners are primarily populated by Pakistanis and a sprinkling of Central Asians, Uighurs, Russians, Turks, Iranians, Indonesians, Indians, and Frenchmen, have long been adversarial. The Islamic State recently accused the Taliban of being more nationalist than pious in their negotiations with the United States. Also Read: Opinion | Return of Taliban: What does it mean for India and the World? The Taliban message is a partial truth at best. What is true for the Islamic State is not true for Al-Qaeda and others such as the Uighur Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. The Taliban appear to believe that they can get away with the differentiation because they perceived the United States as more focused in the withdrawal negotiations on ensuring that the Islamic State, Al-Qaeda, and other militants will not be allowed to use Afghanistan as a base for international operations rather than on getting them expelled from the country. The perceived US focus may have been rooted in a concern that if Taliban’s hands were forced, they would let militants slip out of the country and not hand them over to authorities. That would make it difficult to control their movements or ensure that they are either entered into deradicalization programs or, if warranted, brought to justice. “It’s a Catch-22. The Taliban ensuring that Al Qaeda sticks to rule risks putting a fox in charge of the chicken coop. How much better that is than having foxes run wild remains to be seen,” said a retired counter-terrorism official. Officials of the Trump administration that negotiated the agreement suggest that the continued presence of Al-Qaeda and other militants in Afghanistan would violate the accord with the Taliban. Former US Vice President Mike Pence as well as Trump era State Department counterterrorism coordinator Nathan Sales argued that the deal “required the Taliban…to refuse terrorists safe harbour.” Also Read | Afghanistan too big for Pakistan to swallow, says self-proclaimed president Amarullah Saleh Russia and China, while publicly more measured in their statements, are likely to share western concerns. Russia held military drills earlier this month with Tajik and Uzbek troops in Tajikistan, 20 kilometres from the border with Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda may have been boosted in recent weeks by multiple prison breaks in which the Taliban freed operatives of Al-Qaeda and other militant groups. It remains unclear however to what degree the breaks will help the group strengthen its presence in Afghanistan. General Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned this week that Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State could quickly rebuild their networks in Afghanistan. The United Nations recently reported that Al-Qaeda “is present in at least 15 Afghan provinces”, and that its affiliate in the Indian subcontinent, “operates under Taliban protection from Kandahar, Helmand and Nimruz provinces.” “Without information on who exactly escaped, it is difficult to determine whether historically significant figures remain within AQ’s AfPak network, or if it is mainly composed of newer figures these days, whether local or regional foreign fighters,” cautioned political violence scholar Aaron Y. Zelin. Mr Zelin was referring to Al-Qaeda’s Afghanistan-Pakistan network. Also unclear is whether Al-Qaeda operatives in Iran will be allowed to relocate to Afghanistan. The prison breaks further go to concerns about relying on the Taliban to police jihadists and other militants with aspirations beyond Afghanistan’s borders. Of particular concern is the fact that the balance of power has yet to be determined between Taliban leaders who in recent days have been eager to put a more moderate, accommodating foot forward with security guarantees for their opponents, minorities and women and the group’s far-flung less polished rank and file. The concern about the Taliban’s ability and willingness to control militant activity on Afghan soil is magnified by worry regarding the continued existence of warlords with the power to organise violence, provide jobs and public services, and forge or strengthen ties with militants. “Warlords will play an active role in the future of Afghanistan. They will remain businessmen and political leaders, connected to global economic processes and networks. They will develop the military power that they need to control territory and wage war. They will, finally, continue to fight for more autonomy and, in some cases, might even manage to partially form their old regional polities once again,” said Romain Malejacq, author of a book on Afghan warlords. “Afghanistan’s availability as a sanctuary for terrorists is, to say the least, related to its status as a warlord-ridden wasteland,” said journalist and author Graeme Wood. The Taliban’s refusal to expel militants not only complicates the group’s efforts to garner legitimacy in the international community and particularly its neighbours, even if Al-Qaeda has been significantly weakened since 9/11 and is less focussed on attacking the United States and more on the Muslim world. It also strengthens those who fear that Afghanistan will again emerge as a launching pad for trans-national political violence. “We are going to go back to a pre-9/11 state—a breeding ground for terrorism,” warned Michael McCaul, the ranking Republican member of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee. “They (the Taliban) will not restrict terrorist groups, just ask them to operate low-key,” added Douglas London, a former head of CIA counterterrorism operations for South and Southwest Asia. The Taliban proved already 20 years ago that they valued loyalty when they rejected US and Saudi pressure to hand over Osama bin Laden no matter the cost. The Taliban have since come to appreciate Al Qaeda’s fighting skills and contributions to the Afghan militants’ cause. Taliban fighters this week, in a violation of their pledge to inclusiveness, demonstrated their ideological anti-Shiite affinity with Al-Qaeda by blowing up a statue of Abdul Ali Mazari, a Shiite Hazara militia leader killed by the Taliban when they first took power in 1996. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion | Taliban and Al-Qaeda: Putting a fox in charge of the chicken coop?

Al-Qaeda in Yemen on Wednesday congratulated the Taliban and vowed to continue their own military campaigns

"This victory and empowerment reveals to us that jihad and fighting represent the (Islamic law)-based, legal, and realistic way to restore rights (and) expel the invaders and occupiers," Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) said in a statement.&nbsp;

"As for the game of democracy and working with simple pacifism, it is a deceptive mirage, a fleeting shadow, and a vicious circle that starts with a zero and ends with it," said the statement carried by SITE Intelligence group, which monitors jihadist networks worldwide.&nbsp;

Taliban had provided refuge to Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden during its rule in Afghanistan in late 90s

The US considers AQAP the most dangerous part of Al-Qaeda's global network. US has carried out drone strikes against its fighters in Yemen.

On Sunday, AQAP fighters in Yemen's central governorate of Bayda and southern province of Shabwa celebrated Taliban's return to power with fireworks and gunshots in the air, as per AFP

The hardline Sunni Muslim group has taken advantage of Yemen's war since 2014 between the internationally recognised government and the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, bolstering its presence in southern Yemen.

(With inputs from agencies)

Al-Qaeda in Yemen on Wednesday congratulated the Taliban and vowed to continue their own military campaigns "This victory and empowerment reveals to us that jihad and fighting represent the (Islamic law)-based, legal, and realistic way to restore rights (and) expel the invaders and occupiers," Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) said in a statement.

Al-Qaeda in Yemen on Wednesday congratulated the Taliban and vowed to continue their own military campaigns "This victory and empowerment reveals to us that jihad and fighting represent the (Islamic law)-based, legal, and realistic way to restore rights (and) expel the invaders and occupiers," Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) said in a statement. "As for the game of democracy and working with simple pacifism, it is a deceptive mirage, a fleeting shadow, and a vicious circle that starts with a zero and ends with it," said the statement carried by SITE Intelligence group, which monitors jihadist networks worldwide. Taliban had provided refuge to Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden during its rule in Afghanistan in late 90s The US considers AQAP the most dangerous part of Al-Qaeda's global network. US has carried out drone strikes against its fighters in Yemen. On Sunday, AQAP fighters in Yemen's central governorate of Bayda and southern province of Shabwa celebrated Taliban's return to power with fireworks and gunshots in the air, as per AFP The hardline Sunni Muslim group has taken advantage of Yemen's war since 2014 between the internationally recognised government and the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, bolstering its presence in southern Yemen. (With inputs from agencies)

Yemen Al-Qaeda congratulates Taliban, vows to continue Jihad

August 11 in history: Race riots in Los Angeles, Osama Bin Laden forms Al-Qaeda and more

According to a latest United Nations report, which has been submitted to the Security Council this week, al Qaeda is present in at least 15 Afghan provinces. These provinces are primarily in the southern, eastern and southeastern regions of the country.&nbsp;

The 28th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team shares the latest information on al Qaeda, ISIL (Daesh) and their affiliates.&nbsp;

Reports of the team, which has been established under a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution, are printed in all the official languages of the world body.&nbsp;

Despite a US-Taliban peace deal signed in Doha in February last year, the security situation in Afghanistan “remains fragile, with uncertainty surrounding the peace process and a risk of further deterioration”, the report said.&nbsp;

The UN report says al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) operates under Taliban’s protection from Kandahar, Helmand and Nimruz provinces. It made the observation while referring to the militant group’s weekly newsletter Thabat.&nbsp;

AQIS is being led by Osama Mahmood after the death of its leader Asim Umar in 2019.&nbsp;

Mahmood is not listed in UN documents for terrorists. He was the group’s spokesperson before he got elevated to the chief’s post.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

According to a latest United Nations report, which has been submitted to the Security Council this week, al Qaeda is present in at least 15 Afghan provinces. These provinces are primarily in the southern, eastern and southeastern regions of the country.

According to a latest United Nations report, which has been submitted to the Security Council this week, al Qaeda is present in at least 15 Afghan provinces. These provinces are primarily in the southern, eastern and southeastern regions of the country. The 28th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team shares the latest information on al Qaeda, ISIL (Daesh) and their affiliates. Reports of the team, which has been established under a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution, are printed in all the official languages of the world body. Despite a US-Taliban peace deal signed in Doha in February last year, the security situation in Afghanistan “remains fragile, with uncertainty surrounding the peace process and a risk of further deterioration”, the report said. The UN report says al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) operates under Taliban’s protection from Kandahar, Helmand and Nimruz provinces. It made the observation while referring to the militant group’s weekly newsletter Thabat. AQIS is being led by Osama Mahmood after the death of its leader Asim Umar in 2019. Mahmood is not listed in UN documents for terrorists. He was the group’s spokesperson before he got elevated to the chief’s post. (With inputs from agencies)

UN report says al Qaeda present in 15 provinces of Afghanistan 

The speed of Joe Biden's pullout from Afghanistan has stunned many, however, it's been four years since Washington gave up on forever wars and turned its attention to the traditional great power rivalries with China and Russia.

It was Biden's predecessor Donald Trump, who came to office in 2017, with promises of quitting Afghanistan, calling the war there a "mess" and a "waste."

The 9/11 attacks shook up the US security establishment, forcing the government into launching a "War on Terror."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-do-not-trust-the-taliban-biden-declares-august-31-as-final-date-to-end-us-military-mission-in-afghanistan-396836">'I do not trust the Taliban': Biden declares August 31 as final date to end US military mission in Afghanistan</a>

Since then US security establishment has been occupied with combating stateless terror groups like Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which has cost the country trillions of dollars in expenditures.

Conflicts in both Afghanistan and Iraq have been characterized by almost endless troop deployments, perpetually high levels of violence, and an inability to end the conflict, defeat the enemy.&nbsp;&nbsp;

How did the endless war start?

Following the 9/11 attacks, the US and NATO allies invaded Afghanistan, with one aim; to get rid of Al-Qaeda's protectors, the Taliban government.&nbsp;

The then&nbsp;George W. Bush&nbsp;took advantage of that, to invade Iraq as well, hoping to topple Saddam Hussein and snuff out a wider threat in the middle east.

Both the attacks proved to be large successes, Al-Qaeda stood weakened, and on the run, Saddam unseated and captured in Iraq.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-wideangle-afghan-women-whats-next-397164/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

However, even after these initial successes, the troops had to stay on the ground. Thousands stood deployed in the two countries, hoping to rebuild them,&nbsp;

The initial assaults largely succeeded quickly, with Al-Qaeda fractured and on the run in Afghanistan, and Saddam taken down and captured in Iraq.

But in both cases, the United States and its allies remained on the ground, hoping to rebuild each country, and unable to withdraw with the risk of a return to the pre-9/11 situation hanging in the air.&nbsp;

The end of 'Forever wars'

As of 2020, Trump had overcome resistance and established the groundwork for removing the troops, leaving only 2,500 troops in each country.&nbsp;

Then came Biden. The new President accepted his predecessor's trajectory and promised that the withdrawal will be concluded by August 31, stating that rather than sacrificing another generation of Americans in an unwinnable conflict, the Afghan people must decide their own future.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-achieved-its-goals-afghans-must-decide-own-future-president-joe-biden-396867">US achieved its goals, Afghans must decide own future: President Joe Biden</a>

What changed in the 20 years?

After Xi Jinping's aggressive military expansion, US security leaders began rethinking their views in 2013.

To counter and surpass US military power, China has started building armed bases around the world, including one in Djibouti and several in Asia and the Middle East.

Meanwhile, in 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine's Crimea and backed insurgents in eastern Ukraine. Two years later Moscow waged a campaign to influence the US presidential election.

At the same time, Kim Jong Un in North Korea was embarking on the quest to create nuclear weapons capable of threatening the United States.&nbsp;

A pivot was confirmed by Trump's 2017 National Security Strategy and carried forward by Biden.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/staring-at-civil-war-how-bad-is-the-situation-in-afghanistan-397134">Staring at civil war: How bad is the situation in Afghanistan?</a>

"China and Russia challenge American power, influence, and interests, attempting to erode American security and prosperity," it said.&nbsp;

"They are determined to make economies less free and less fair, to grow their militaries, and to control information and data to repress their societies and expand their influence."

In the Pentagon's view, counterterrorism doesn't end when the US pulls out of Afghanistan. Although it is turning more toward remote-directed attacks, using air and missile strikes from ships and bases in Afghanistan where Al-Qaeda still operates.

According to Biden, the US is just revising its counterterrorism posture and repositioning resources to meet the threats where they are now.

(With inputs from agencies)

The speed of Joe Biden's pullout from Afghanistan has stunned many, however, it's been four years since Washington gave up on forever wars and turned its attention to the traditional great power rivalries with China and Russia.

The speed of Joe Biden's pullout from Afghanistan has stunned many, however, it's been four years since Washington gave up on forever wars and turned its attention to the traditional great power rivalries with China and Russia. It was Biden's predecessor Donald Trump, who came to office in 2017, with promises of quitting Afghanistan, calling the war there a "mess" and a "waste." The 9/11 attacks shook up the US security establishment, forcing the government into launching a "War on Terror." Also read | 'I do not trust the Taliban': Biden declares August 31 as final date to end US military mission in Afghanistan Since then US security establishment has been occupied with combating stateless terror groups like Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which has cost the country trillions of dollars in expenditures. Conflicts in both Afghanistan and Iraq have been characterized by almost endless troop deployments, perpetually high levels of violence, and an inability to end the conflict, defeat the enemy. How did the endless war start? Following the 9/11 attacks, the US and NATO allies invaded Afghanistan, with one aim; to get rid of Al-Qaeda's protectors, the Taliban government. The then George W. Bush took advantage of that, to invade Iraq as well, hoping to topple Saddam Hussein and snuff out a wider threat in the middle east. Both the attacks proved to be large successes, Al-Qaeda stood weakened, and on the run, Saddam unseated and captured in Iraq. However, even after these initial successes, the troops had to stay on the ground. Thousands stood deployed in the two countries, hoping to rebuild them, The initial assaults largely succeeded quickly, with Al-Qaeda fractured and on the run in Afghanistan, and Saddam taken down and captured in Iraq. But in both cases, the United States and its allies remained on the ground, hoping to rebuild each country, and unable to withdraw with the risk of a return to the pre-9/11 situation hanging in the air. The end of 'Forever wars' As of 2020, Trump had overcome resistance and established the groundwork for removing the troops, leaving only 2,500 troops in each country. Then came Biden. The new President accepted his predecessor's trajectory and promised that the withdrawal will be concluded by August 31, stating that rather than sacrificing another generation of Americans in an unwinnable conflict, the Afghan people must decide their own future. Also read | US achieved its goals, Afghans must decide own future: President Joe Biden What changed in the 20 years? After Xi Jinping's aggressive military expansion, US security leaders began rethinking their views in 2013. To counter and surpass US military power, China has started building armed bases around the world, including one in Djibouti and several in Asia and the Middle East. Meanwhile, in 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine's Crimea and backed insurgents in eastern Ukraine. Two years later Moscow waged a campaign to influence the US presidential election. At the same time, Kim Jong Un in North Korea was embarking on the quest to create nuclear weapons capable of threatening the United States. A pivot was confirmed by Trump's 2017 National Security Strategy and carried forward by Biden. Also read | Staring at civil war: How bad is the situation in Afghanistan? "China and Russia challenge American power, influence, and interests, attempting to erode American security and prosperity," it said. "They are determined to make economies less free and less fair, to grow their militaries, and to control information and data to repress their societies and expand their influence." In the Pentagon's view, counterterrorism doesn't end when the US pulls out of Afghanistan. Although it is turning more toward remote-directed attacks, using air and missile strikes from ships and bases in Afghanistan where Al-Qaeda still operates. According to Biden, the US is just revising its counterterrorism posture and repositioning resources to meet the threats where they are now. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan pullout: An end to US 'forever wars'?

Thousands of people took to the streets of&nbsp;Burkina&nbsp;Faso&nbsp;on Saturday, demanding a stronger response to rising jihadist bloodshed after a massacre last month killed more than 130 people.

The landlocked West African country has faced increasing attacks by jihadist groups linked Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State since 2015.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/children-aged-12-to-14-carried-out-the-attack-that-killed-over-130-in-burkina-faso-393815">Children aged 12 to 14 carried out the attack that killed over 130 in Burkina Faso</a>

In the capital Ouagadougou, protesters chanted "No to growing insecurity", "No to populations being abandoned", "No to endless attacks" and "Is there still a president in&nbsp;Burkina&nbsp;Faso?"

It was the first march organised by the opposition and civil society groups since President Roch Marc Christian Kabore was re-elected last year.

Kabore had asked the organisers to postpone the march.

But opposition leader Eddie Komboigo welcomed "a huge mobilisation across the country despite government calls for a boycott".

"Today, from Dori to Kampti, from Dedougou to Diebougou, from Ouagadougou to Diapaga, people demonstrated to protest against the worsening security situation," he said.

"During Kabore's first term, there were officially more than 1,300 deaths and 1.2 million internally displaced people," he added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-132-civilians-killed-in-burkina-fasos-worst-attack-in-years-389688">At least 132 civilians killed in Burkina Faso's worst attack in years</a>

"It is feared that the second term will be worse than the first, because since the start of the year we have had more than 300 deaths".

A demonstrator in the eastern department of Madjoari told AFP by phone that he was marching "so that the many displaced people can return to their home regions and live peacefully".

Anger has been rising since the night of June 4, when the deadliest attack in the country's six-year Islamist insurgency was waged on the village of Solhan.

Armed men -- including "young people aged 12 to 14", authorities said -- killed at least 132 people, according to the government.&nbsp;

Local sources said the toll was 160, including many children.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/burkina-faso-massacre-biggest-attack-in-countrys-history-389698/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Civil society figure Aristide Ouedraogo said "in light of the latest macabre developments of the security front, it was time to send a strong signal to the leaders to pull themselves together".

In response to the growing fury, Kabore sacked his defence and security ministers on Wednesday. Kabore himself took over as defence minister.

Thousands of people took to the streets of Burkina Faso on Saturday, demanding a stronger response to rising jihadist bloodshed after a massacre last month killed more than 130 people.

Thousands of people took to the streets of Burkina Faso on Saturday, demanding a stronger response to rising jihadist bloodshed after a massacre last month killed more than 130 people. The landlocked West African country has faced increasing attacks by jihadist groups linked Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State since 2015. Also read | Children aged 12 to 14 carried out the attack that killed over 130 in Burkina Faso In the capital Ouagadougou, protesters chanted "No to growing insecurity", "No to populations being abandoned", "No to endless attacks" and "Is there still a president in Burkina Faso?" It was the first march organised by the opposition and civil society groups since President Roch Marc Christian Kabore was re-elected last year. Kabore had asked the organisers to postpone the march. But opposition leader Eddie Komboigo welcomed "a huge mobilisation across the country despite government calls for a boycott". "Today, from Dori to Kampti, from Dedougou to Diebougou, from Ouagadougou to Diapaga, people demonstrated to protest against the worsening security situation," he said. "During Kabore's first term, there were officially more than 1,300 deaths and 1.2 million internally displaced people," he added. Also read | At least 132 civilians killed in Burkina Faso's worst attack in years "It is feared that the second term will be worse than the first, because since the start of the year we have had more than 300 deaths". A demonstrator in the eastern department of Madjoari told AFP by phone that he was marching "so that the many displaced people can return to their home regions and live peacefully". Anger has been rising since the night of June 4, when the deadliest attack in the country's six-year Islamist insurgency was waged on the village of Solhan. Armed men -- including "young people aged 12 to 14", authorities said -- killed at least 132 people, according to the government. Local sources said the toll was 160, including many children. Civil society figure Aristide Ouedraogo said "in light of the latest macabre developments of the security front, it was time to send a strong signal to the leaders to pull themselves together". In response to the growing fury, Kabore sacked his defence and security ministers on Wednesday. Kabore himself took over as defence minister.

Thousands in Burkina Faso protest rising bloodshed

Pakistan's foreign minister has given the Taliban a clean chit in the ongoing violence in Afghanistan. He has accused India of having more influence 'than it ought to' in the region. Why is Shah Mahmood Qureshi dictating India's Afghan policy? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Pakistan's foreign minister accuses India of terrorism

Top Pentagon leaders said that international terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda could pose a threat to the US homeland from Afghanistan within two years.

Pentagon: Terrorists could pose a threat to US in two years from Afghanistan

French forces killed an Al Qaeda leader in Sahel region of Africa, France's armed forces minister said on Friday. He vowed to keep substantial military presence in the region. These words have come just a day after French President Emmanuel Macron ordered a drawdown of French forces from Sahel.

Speaking in an impromptu address, Florence Parly said that Baye ag Bakabo, who she said was responsible for the death of two French reporters in Mali in 2013, was killed on June 5. Three other militants were also killed.

"An operation was then launched against an armed terrorist group which was about to unleash mortar fire on a base held by a Chadian battalion of MINUSMA," Parly said, referring to the United Nations mission in Mali. "Four people were neutralised in the mission."

Radio journalists Claude Verlon and Ghislaine Dupont were abducted and shot dead after interviewing a member of the MNLA Tuareg separatist group in northern Mali in November 2013, six month after French troops drove back al-Qaeda-linked groups that had seized cities and towns in northern Mali.

Families of the journalists have sought numerous legal avenues to bring the killers to justice.

Paris prosecutors as early as 2013 had named Bakabo, a Touareg rebel and drug trafficker linked to al Qaeda’s north African wing, as the chief suspect after his pick-up truck was found abandoned in the desert near the bodies of the journalists.

Florence Parly was speaking after Macron said his country's operation battling Islamist militants in Sahel would come to an end with troops now operating as part of broader international efforts in the region.

France, the former colonial power, has hailed some success against Sahel militants in recent months. However, the situation is extremely fragile and Paris has grown frustrated with no apparent end in sight to its operations, political turmoil, especially in Mali, and some regional governments directly negotiating with militants Paris has been fighting.

(With inputs from agencies)

French forces killed an Al Qaeda leader in Sahel region of Africa, France's armed forces minister said on Friday. He vowed to keep substantial military presence in the region.

French forces killed an Al Qaeda leader in Sahel region of Africa, France's armed forces minister said on Friday. He vowed to keep substantial military presence in the region. These words have come just a day after French President Emmanuel Macron ordered a drawdown of French forces from Sahel. Speaking in an impromptu address, Florence Parly said that Baye ag Bakabo, who she said was responsible for the death of two French reporters in Mali in 2013, was killed on June 5. Three other militants were also killed. "An operation was then launched against an armed terrorist group which was about to unleash mortar fire on a base held by a Chadian battalion of MINUSMA," Parly said, referring to the United Nations mission in Mali. "Four people were neutralised in the mission." Radio journalists Claude Verlon and Ghislaine Dupont were abducted and shot dead after interviewing a member of the MNLA Tuareg separatist group in northern Mali in November 2013, six month after French troops drove back al-Qaeda-linked groups that had seized cities and towns in northern Mali. Families of the journalists have sought numerous legal avenues to bring the killers to justice. Paris prosecutors as early as 2013 had named Bakabo, a Touareg rebel and drug trafficker linked to al Qaeda’s north African wing, as the chief suspect after his pick-up truck was found abandoned in the desert near the bodies of the journalists. Florence Parly was speaking after Macron said his country's operation battling Islamist militants in Sahel would come to an end with troops now operating as part of broader international efforts in the region. France, the former colonial power, has hailed some success against Sahel militants in recent months. However, the situation is extremely fragile and Paris has grown frustrated with no apparent end in sight to its operations, political turmoil, especially in Mali, and some regional governments directly negotiating with militants Paris has been fighting. (With inputs from agencies)

France kills Al Qaeda leader in Sahel region of Africa

Two years after local emir Djibril Diallo fled his home in northern Burkina Faso following death threats from Islamist militants, he received an unexpected request: to return and take part in peace talks with the same people who wanted him dead.

Adama Ouedraogo, deputy mayor of Diallo's hometown of Thiou, called him in January to help negotiate an end to years of attacks by jihadists against local militias and civilians that forced thousands of people to flee the area.

"I told them that if everyone was sincere, I could return," said Diallo, a traditional chief to Fulani herders.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-132-civilians-killed-in-burkina-fasos-worst-attack-in-years-389688">At least 132 civilians killed in Burkina Faso's worst attack in years</a>

For a decade, West African armies and their international allies have fought against militant groups active in the Sahel region, some linked to the al Qaeda and Islamic State networks.

They have had limited success. Attacks on civilians still occur most weeks and large areas remain outside government control. Hundreds of soldiers have been killed since militants first seized control of swathes of Mali in 2012.

Now, in the worst-hit parts of Burkina Faso and neighbouring Mali, local leaders are pursuing unofficial talks with militants. The governments do not publicly acknowledge the discussions, but five sources involved in them told Reuters the authorities have been quietly supportive.

Military ally and former colonial power France, which has 5,100 troops in the region supporting local forces, says the militants will exploit truces to regroup, rearm and recruit.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-african-countries-in-huddle-over-situation-in-mali-388446">West African countries in huddle over situation in Mali</a>

President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his opposition to talks on Thursday, telling reporters that French troops would not conduct joint operations with countries that "decide to negotiate with groups that ... shoot at our children".

Yet there are tentative signs that the outreach may be helping stem bloodshed in localities where it is happening.

Data collected by the US-based Armed Conflict Location &amp; Event Data Project (ACLED) for the Nord, Sahel and Boucle de Mouhoun regions show significant reductions in conflict-related fatalities, although other factors, including recent military offensives, could have played a role.

In the Nord, the number of deaths from battles and violence against civilians dropped from 65 in the first quarter of 2020 to 26 in the first quarter of 2021. In the Sahel, they fell from 487 to 191 and in the Boucle de Mouhoun, from 66 to zero.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/burkina-faso-massacre-biggest-attack-in-countrys-history-389698/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Mahamadou Sawadogo, a researcher on security issues and former Burkinabe gendarme, said such truces had led to an easing of violence but cautioned that their scope was limited to specific localities.

A June 4-5 attack on Solhan village near the border with Niger, in which at least 132 people died, underlined how dangerous the region remains. The village was not known to have negotiated an agreement with jihadists.

In Thiou, located on an expanse of arid scrubland about 20 km from the Malian border, Diallo and others struck a truce in February with militants who say they are connected to al Qaeda's regional JNIM affiliate.

Commerce is flowing freely again and thousands of displaced people have returned, Diallo said.

Idrissa Diallo, a restaurant owner in town who is not related to Djibril Diallo but shares a last name common among Fulanis, fled to Ivory Coast in 2019 after the jihadists began clashing with local vigilante groups.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-whats-happening-in-mali-right-now-387269">Explainer | What's happening in Mali right now?</a>

He came home following the talks.

"Calm has been restored," he said, shifting small pieces of meat and onions over smouldering charcoals. "I started to work a little, and there are lots of clients who come."

Secret Meetings

The first meetings took place in December in the secrecy of a forest outside Thiou, in Burkina Faso's Nord region, according to deputy mayor Ouedraogo.

They were organised by Ouedraogo, who said he had kept in touch with some people who joined the militants. He was accompanied by the head of a group of volunteer fighters who are backed by the army and oppose the jihadists.

"At the start of the negotiations, it wasn't at all easy," Ouedraogo recalled. "The jihadists came with lots of weapons."

They met seven times before both sides agreed to more formal talks. Ouedraogo informed the mayor, village chiefs and Diallo, an authoritative figure among Fulani herdsmen whom the jihadists considered a worthy interlocutor despite having threatened him.

Diallo joined the process and, after another meeting, jihadists reported back to their superiors, he said.

Thiou's mayor updated the regional governor, a federal government appointee, according to Diallo and two others who participated in the talks but asked not to be named.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-army-chief-protests-un-bias-in-report-over-mali-strikes-386743">France army chief protests UN 'bias' in report over Mali strikes</a>

The mayor declined to comment when asked about the contacts, and the governor did not respond to requests for comment. A government spokesperson said the negotiations were a local initiative and declined to respond to specific questions.

Then, in February, about 400 jihadist fighters, including some from Mali where al Qaeda's powerful JNIM branch is based, came to seal the peace, said Ouedraogo.

The jihadists' main condition was that the volunteer fighters, whom the jihadists accused of stealing motorcycles and cattle and killing civilians suspected of sympathising with the&nbsp;Islamists, cease their patrols.

The negotiators agreed and allowed the jihadists and their family members to trade at the market and receive medical care in town, according to Ouedraogo and Diallo.

The jihadists vowed to cease attacks and to lift blockades.

French Opposition

Authorities have been constrained by French opposition to negotiating with militants, said a source involved in talks in Burkina Faso and Mali, adding that time was of the essence while contact with militants appeared to be bearing fruit.

At a news conference on Thursday where he announced France would end its military operation in the Sahel and incorporate its forces into a broader international campaign, Macron threatened to stop working with countries that negotiate with jihadists.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-announces-major-troop-drawdown-from-sahel-region-in-africa-390703">Macron announces major troop drawdown from Sahel region in Africa</a>

"I don't know how to explain to the parents of a French soldier who fell on the battlefield that I am sending back his brothers in arms to fight alongside an army that has decided to negotiate with his assailants," Macron said.

Decrying "ambiguity" on the matter, Macron said one condition for France to resume joint military operations with Mali's army - suspended after a coup last month - would be a Malian commitment not to negotiate with the militants.

Mali's leaders have publicly endorsed the idea of talks, but they have kept concrete moves to pursue negotiations quiet.

In the Niono Circle in central Mali, representatives of the High Islamic Council (HCI), the country's main Muslim body, led negotiations earlier this year with al Qaeda-linked militants that resulted in a peace deal in March, said Bocary Diallo, one of the HCI negotiators.

Diallo said the organisation was given the go-ahead at a meeting attended by religious leaders and four government ministers, but that the government never officially signed off on it.

Mali's presidency and the ministry of national reconciliation did not respond to requests for comment.

Two years after local emir Djibril Diallo fled his home in northern Burkina Faso following death threats from Islamist militants, he received an unexpected request: to return and take part in peace talks with the same people who wanted him dead.

Two years after local emir Djibril Diallo fled his home in northern Burkina Faso following death threats from Islamist militants, he received an unexpected request: to return and take part in peace talks with the same people who wanted him dead. Adama Ouedraogo, deputy mayor of Diallo's hometown of Thiou, called him in January to help negotiate an end to years of attacks by jihadists against local militias and civilians that forced thousands of people to flee the area. "I told them that if everyone was sincere, I could return," said Diallo, a traditional chief to Fulani herders. Also read | At least 132 civilians killed in Burkina Faso's worst attack in years For a decade, West African armies and their international allies have fought against militant groups active in the Sahel region, some linked to the al Qaeda and Islamic State networks. They have had limited success. Attacks on civilians still occur most weeks and large areas remain outside government control. Hundreds of soldiers have been killed since militants first seized control of swathes of Mali in 2012. Now, in the worst-hit parts of Burkina Faso and neighbouring Mali, local leaders are pursuing unofficial talks with militants. The governments do not publicly acknowledge the discussions, but five sources involved in them told Reuters the authorities have been quietly supportive. Military ally and former colonial power France, which has 5,100 troops in the region supporting local forces, says the militants will exploit truces to regroup, rearm and recruit. Also read | West African countries in huddle over situation in Mali President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his opposition to talks on Thursday, telling reporters that French troops would not conduct joint operations with countries that "decide to negotiate with groups that ... shoot at our children". Yet there are tentative signs that the outreach may be helping stem bloodshed in localities where it is happening. Data collected by the US-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) for the Nord, Sahel and Boucle de Mouhoun regions show significant reductions in conflict-related fatalities, although other factors, including recent military offensives, could have played a role. In the Nord, the number of deaths from battles and violence against civilians dropped from 65 in the first quarter of 2020 to 26 in the first quarter of 2021. In the Sahel, they fell from 487 to 191 and in the Boucle de Mouhoun, from 66 to zero. Mahamadou Sawadogo, a researcher on security issues and former Burkinabe gendarme, said such truces had led to an easing of violence but cautioned that their scope was limited to specific localities. A June 4-5 attack on Solhan village near the border with Niger, in which at least 132 people died, underlined how dangerous the region remains. The village was not known to have negotiated an agreement with jihadists. In Thiou, located on an expanse of arid scrubland about 20 km from the Malian border, Diallo and others struck a truce in February with militants who say they are connected to al Qaeda's regional JNIM affiliate. Commerce is flowing freely again and thousands of displaced people have returned, Diallo said. Idrissa Diallo, a restaurant owner in town who is not related to Djibril Diallo but shares a last name common among Fulanis, fled to Ivory Coast in 2019 after the jihadists began clashing with local vigilante groups. Also read | Explainer | What's happening in Mali right now? He came home following the talks. "Calm has been restored," he said, shifting small pieces of meat and onions over smouldering charcoals. "I started to work a little, and there are lots of clients who come." Secret Meetings The first meetings took place in December in the secrecy of a forest outside Thiou, in Burkina Faso's Nord region, according to deputy mayor Ouedraogo. They were organised by Ouedraogo, who said he had kept in touch with some people who joined the militants. He was accompanied by the head of a group of volunteer fighters who are backed by the army and oppose the jihadists. "At the start of the negotiations, it wasn't at all easy," Ouedraogo recalled. "The jihadists came with lots of weapons." They met seven times before both sides agreed to more formal talks. Ouedraogo informed the mayor, village chiefs and Diallo, an authoritative figure among Fulani herdsmen whom the jihadists considered a worthy interlocutor despite having threatened him. Diallo joined the process and, after another meeting, jihadists reported back to their superiors, he said. Thiou's mayor updated the regional governor, a federal government appointee, according to Diallo and two others who participated in the talks but asked not to be named. Also read | France army chief protests UN 'bias' in report over Mali strikes The mayor declined to comment when asked about the contacts, and the governor did not respond to requests for comment. A government spokesperson said the negotiations were a local initiative and declined to respond to specific questions. Then, in February, about 400 jihadist fighters, including some from Mali where al Qaeda's powerful JNIM branch is based, came to seal the peace, said Ouedraogo. The jihadists' main condition was that the volunteer fighters, whom the jihadists accused of stealing motorcycles and cattle and killing civilians suspected of sympathising with the Islamists, cease their patrols. The negotiators agreed and allowed the jihadists and their family members to trade at the market and receive medical care in town, according to Ouedraogo and Diallo. The jihadists vowed to cease attacks and to lift blockades. French Opposition Authorities have been constrained by French opposition to negotiating with militants, said a source involved in talks in Burkina Faso and Mali, adding that time was of the essence while contact with militants appeared to be bearing fruit. At a news conference on Thursday where he announced France would end its military operation in the Sahel and incorporate its forces into a broader international campaign, Macron threatened to stop working with countries that negotiate with jihadists. Also read | Macron announces major troop drawdown from Sahel region in Africa "I don't know how to explain to the parents of a French soldier who fell on the battlefield that I am sending back his brothers in arms to fight alongside an army that has decided to negotiate with his assailants," Macron said. Decrying "ambiguity" on the matter, Macron said one condition for France to resume joint military operations with Mali's army - suspended after a coup last month - would be a Malian commitment not to negotiate with the militants. Mali's leaders have publicly endorsed the idea of talks, but they have kept concrete moves to pursue negotiations quiet. In the Niono Circle in central Mali, representatives of the High Islamic Council (HCI), the country's main Muslim body, led negotiations earlier this year with al Qaeda-linked militants that resulted in a peace deal in March, said Bocary Diallo, one of the HCI negotiators. Diallo said the organisation was given the go-ahead at a meeting attended by religious leaders and four government ministers, but that the government never officially signed off on it. Mali's presidency and the ministry of national reconciliation did not respond to requests for comment.

With military victory elusive, West African nations quietly back talks with Islamists

Ahead of the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, a UN report on the Afghan security situation has raised alarm over the Taliban's ties with Al-Qaeda and believes that it can return to power by force if necessary.

UN report claims Taliban and Al-Qaeda remain closely aligned

A French journalist, who disappeared last month in Mali's northern city of Gao appeared in a video on Wednesday appealing to authorities to work for his release. He also said that he had been kidnapped in early April by a jihadist group with links to Al-Qaeda.

French journalist abducted in Mali appears in video asking for help

Calling the moment US soldiers killed Osama bin Laden "a moment I will never forget", US President Joe Biden on Sunday reaffirmed USA's decision to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan. Sunday was the 10th anniversary of Osama bin Laden's killing. Biden has already said that the US will end its war in Afghanistan by September 11. In his statement on Sunday, Biden praised former US President Barack Obama for his 2011 decision to approve secret operation targetting Laden and praised special forces that eliminated him.

"We followed bin Laden to the gates of hell -- and we got him," Biden said in a statement released by the White House.&nbsp;

"We kept the promise to all those who lost loved ones on 9/11: that we would never forget those we had lost, and that the United States will never waver in our commitment to prevent another attack on our homeland."

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/roaring-tanker-fire-kills-7-injures-14-in-afghanistan-capital-382083">Roaring tanker fire kills 7, injures 14 in Afghanistan capital</a>

Watching the operation remotely from a crowded White House Situation Room, Biden said, was "a moment I will never forget -- the intelligence professionals who had painstakingly tracked him down; the clarity and conviction of President Obama in making the call; the courage and skill of our team on the ground."

Now, as the US begins pulling the last of its troops from Afghanistan, Biden said: "Al Qaeda is greatly degraded there. But the United States will remain vigilant about the threat from terrorist groups that have metastasized around the world.&nbsp;

"We will continue to monitor and disrupt any threat to us that emerges from Afghanistan. And we will work to counter terrorist threats to our homeland and our interests in cooperation with allies and partners around the world."

(With inputs from agencies)

Calling the moment US soldiers killed Osama bin Laden "a moment I will never forget", US President Joe Biden on Sunday reaffirmed USA's decision to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan.

Calling the moment US soldiers killed Osama bin Laden "a moment I will never forget", US President Joe Biden on Sunday reaffirmed USA's decision to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan. Sunday was the 10th anniversary of Osama bin Laden's killing. Biden has already said that the US will end its war in Afghanistan by September 11. In his statement on Sunday, Biden praised former US President Barack Obama for his 2011 decision to approve secret operation targetting Laden and praised special forces that eliminated him. "We followed bin Laden to the gates of hell -- and we got him," Biden said in a statement released by the White House. "We kept the promise to all those who lost loved ones on 9/11: that we would never forget those we had lost, and that the United States will never waver in our commitment to prevent another attack on our homeland." Also Read | Roaring tanker fire kills 7, injures 14 in Afghanistan capital Watching the operation remotely from a crowded White House Situation Room, Biden said, was "a moment I will never forget -- the intelligence professionals who had painstakingly tracked him down; the clarity and conviction of President Obama in making the call; the courage and skill of our team on the ground." Now, as the US begins pulling the last of its troops from Afghanistan, Biden said: "Al Qaeda is greatly degraded there. But the United States will remain vigilant about the threat from terrorist groups that have metastasized around the world. "We will continue to monitor and disrupt any threat to us that emerges from Afghanistan. And we will work to counter terrorist threats to our homeland and our interests in cooperation with allies and partners around the world." (With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden marks 10 years since Osama bin Laden's killing

As the world celebrated the 10th anniversary of terrorist Osama Bin Laden’s death, his terrorist network and group Al Qaeda has vowed war against the US till the forces are "expelled from the rest of the Islamic world".

While US President Joe Biden prepares to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan, Al Qaeda has detached itself from the promise made by the Taliban and has instead vowed war with the US.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/10-years-after-death-al-qaeda-chief-osama-bin-laden-still-mobilises-jihadists-380730">10 years after death, al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden still mobilises jihadists</a>

Two al Qaeda operatives have told CNN in an exclusive interview that "war against the US will be continuing on all other fronts unless they are expelled from the rest of the Islamic world".

The comment from the al Qaeda operatives has come as a warning that the group might be looking to re-enter Afghanistan as the US troops prepare to move out, as per the deal made with the Taliban.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-pullout-surge-in-insider-attacks-in-afghan-army-says-us-government-report-381730">Afghanistan pullout: Surge in insider attacks in Afghan army, says US government report</a>

"The United States is not a problem for our Afghan brothers, but due to the sacrifices in the Afghan war, the Americans are now defeated. Whether Republicans or Democrats — both have made final decision to pull out from the Afghan war," they said.

In fact, the members of the terrorist group have also thanked the Taliban for keeping the fight against the US going. "Thanks to Afghans for the protection of comrades-in-arms, many such jihadi fronts have been successfully operating in different parts of the Islamic world for a long time," the operative said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-to-deploy-additional-military-assets-to-afghanistan-as-withdrawal-underway-381534">US to deploy additional military assets to Afghanistan as withdrawal underway</a>

The spokesperson has also hinted that the deal between the Taliban and America might be based on a sham as, al Qaeda claims, the Taliban is not being completely honest with the Biden administration.

They also claimed to have "masterminded" the 2009 attack, which led to the killing of seven CIA operatives. The operatives claimed that the Pakistani Taliban (TP) was their junior partner in the attack and "was in its learning stages” due to which “many mistakes were made by them".

However, now, the group is proud of its influence over the infamous TTP. "Now the organization of Pakistani Taliban and their leadership not only moving forward in the light of Sharia but also making better decisions based on past experiences and recent successes have been made possible by the same unity and adherence to Sharia and Wisdom," they said.

As the world celebrated the 10th anniversary of terrorist Osama Bin Laden’s death, his terrorist network and group Al Qaeda has vowed war against the US till the forces are "expelled from the rest of the Islamic world".

As the world celebrated the 10th anniversary of terrorist Osama Bin Laden’s death, his terrorist network and group Al Qaeda has vowed war against the US till the forces are "expelled from the rest of the Islamic world". While US President Joe Biden prepares to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan, Al Qaeda has detached itself from the promise made by the Taliban and has instead vowed war with the US. Also read | 10 years after death, al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden still mobilises jihadists Two al Qaeda operatives have told CNN in an exclusive interview that "war against the US will be continuing on all other fronts unless they are expelled from the rest of the Islamic world". The comment from the al Qaeda operatives has come as a warning that the group might be looking to re-enter Afghanistan as the US troops prepare to move out, as per the deal made with the Taliban. Also read | Afghanistan pullout: Surge in insider attacks in Afghan army, says US government report "The United States is not a problem for our Afghan brothers, but due to the sacrifices in the Afghan war, the Americans are now defeated. Whether Republicans or Democrats — both have made final decision to pull out from the Afghan war," they said. In fact, the members of the terrorist group have also thanked the Taliban for keeping the fight against the US going. "Thanks to Afghans for the protection of comrades-in-arms, many such jihadi fronts have been successfully operating in different parts of the Islamic world for a long time," the operative said. Also read | US to deploy additional military assets to Afghanistan as withdrawal underway The spokesperson has also hinted that the deal between the Taliban and America might be based on a sham as, al Qaeda claims, the Taliban is not being completely honest with the Biden administration. They also claimed to have "masterminded" the 2009 attack, which led to the killing of seven CIA operatives. The operatives claimed that the Pakistani Taliban (TP) was their junior partner in the attack and "was in its learning stages” due to which “many mistakes were made by them". However, now, the group is proud of its influence over the infamous TTP. "Now the organization of Pakistani Taliban and their leadership not only moving forward in the light of Sharia but also making better decisions based on past experiences and recent successes have been made possible by the same unity and adherence to Sharia and Wisdom," they said.

'War is not over': Al Qaeda warns US as American troops prepare to withdraw from Afghanistan

The United States on Tuesday ordered government employees out of its embassy in the Afghan capital of&nbsp;Kabul&nbsp;if their work can be done elsewhere, citing increasing violence in the city.

The order came in an updated State Department travel advisory for Afghanistan, where the Biden administration is beginning a drawdown of US&nbsp;combat troops on May 1.

"In light of increasing violence and threat reports in&nbsp;Kabul, the Department has approved Ordered Departure status affecting a relatively small number of employees at the US&nbsp;Embassy in&nbsp;Kabul&nbsp;effective immediately," a State Department spokeswoman said by email. She declined to discuss the exact number of staff affected.

"We do not anticipate any changes to our operations and capabilities resulting from this action," she added.

President Joe Biden this month set a deadline for withdrawing all 2,500 US&nbsp;troops remaining in Afghanistan of September&nbsp;11, the 20th anniversary of al Qaeda's attacks on the United States that triggered the war.

The United States on Tuesday ordered government employees out of its embassy in the Afghan capital of Kabul if their work can be done elsewhere, citing increasing violence in the city.

The United States on Tuesday ordered government employees out of its embassy in the Afghan capital of Kabul if their work can be done elsewhere, citing increasing violence in the city. The order came in an updated State Department travel advisory for Afghanistan, where the Biden administration is beginning a drawdown of US combat troops on May 1. "In light of increasing violence and threat reports in Kabul, the Department has approved Ordered Departure status affecting a relatively small number of employees at the US Embassy in Kabul effective immediately," a State Department spokeswoman said by email. She declined to discuss the exact number of staff affected. "We do not anticipate any changes to our operations and capabilities resulting from this action," she added. President Joe Biden this month set a deadline for withdrawing all 2,500 US troops remaining in Afghanistan of September 11, the 20th anniversary of al Qaeda's attacks on the United States that triggered the war.

State Department orders some US government employees out of Kabul

Dr Shakil Afridi, a doctor who helped the CIA track down Osama bin Laden in his Abbottabad compound is paying a heavy price for his role in the operation.

Afridi was dismissed as a traitor in Pakistan but lauded as a hero by the United States.

Shakil Afridi has been languishing in a prison in the city of Peshawar for almost ten years after his fake vaccination programme helped US agents track and kill the Al-Qaeda leader.

"He is being kept in prison now only to teach every Pakistani a lesson not to cooperate with a western intelligence agency," said Husain Haqqani, who was serving as Pakistan's ambassador to Washington at the time of the raid.

"The raid that led to the death of Osama Bin Laden, it was a huge embarrassment for Pakistan and particularly for the Pakistani military because it really didn't know it was happening. And you know you had US forces on Pakistani territory and they left and nothing happened and this was a huge embarrassment to the Pakistani military, it triggered huge amounts of anger in Pakistan. So clearly Pakistan had to do something, I think, to appease a very angry public," said Michael Kugelman, South Asia deputy director, the Wilson Center.

Hailing from Pakistan's rugged tribal areas, the physician appeared to be an ideal asset for the CIA as the spy agency zeroed in on Bin Laden's hideout in the city of Abbottabad.&nbsp;

All the Americans needed was a bit of proof that Bin Laden was there, so they had Afridi launch a vaccine campaign with the aim of extracting a DNA sample from inside his compound.&nbsp;

Just how instrumental Afridi was in identifying the Al-Qaeda boss is unclear, but the doctor was arrested by authorities weeks after the deadly assault on Bin Laden's home.

He was never found guilty of anything linked to the raid, but convicted by a tribal court under an obscure colonial-era law of providing money to an insurgent group and handed a 33-year sentence.

Successive US administrations have protested against his continued imprisonment -- and over the years there has been talking of a prisoner exchange -- but a deal to free Afridi has never materialised.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Dr Shakil Afridi, a doctor who helped the CIA track down Osama bin Laden in his Abbottabad compound is paying a heavy price for his role in the operation. Afridi was dismissed as a traitor in Pakistan but lauded as a hero by the United States.

Dr Shakil Afridi, a doctor who helped the CIA track down Osama bin Laden in his Abbottabad compound is paying a heavy price for his role in the operation. Afridi was dismissed as a traitor in Pakistan but lauded as a hero by the United States. Shakil Afridi has been languishing in a prison in the city of Peshawar for almost ten years after his fake vaccination programme helped US agents track and kill the Al-Qaeda leader. "He is being kept in prison now only to teach every Pakistani a lesson not to cooperate with a western intelligence agency," said Husain Haqqani, who was serving as Pakistan's ambassador to Washington at the time of the raid. "The raid that led to the death of Osama Bin Laden, it was a huge embarrassment for Pakistan and particularly for the Pakistani military because it really didn't know it was happening. And you know you had US forces on Pakistani territory and they left and nothing happened and this was a huge embarrassment to the Pakistani military, it triggered huge amounts of anger in Pakistan. So clearly Pakistan had to do something, I think, to appease a very angry public," said Michael Kugelman, South Asia deputy director, the Wilson Center. Hailing from Pakistan's rugged tribal areas, the physician appeared to be an ideal asset for the CIA as the spy agency zeroed in on Bin Laden's hideout in the city of Abbottabad. All the Americans needed was a bit of proof that Bin Laden was there, so they had Afridi launch a vaccine campaign with the aim of extracting a DNA sample from inside his compound. Just how instrumental Afridi was in identifying the Al-Qaeda boss is unclear, but the doctor was arrested by authorities weeks after the deadly assault on Bin Laden's home. He was never found guilty of anything linked to the raid, but convicted by a tribal court under an obscure colonial-era law of providing money to an insurgent group and handed a 33-year sentence. Successive US administrations have protested against his continued imprisonment -- and over the years there has been talking of a prisoner exchange -- but a deal to free Afridi has never materialised. (With inputs from agencies)

Shakeel Afridi: Man who helped the US find Osama Bin Laden languishes in prison

Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has taken to Twitter to berate the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, after reports emerged that the top American diplomat has accused Tehran of having links with al-Qaeda.

In fiery remarks, Zarif called the allegations allegedly based on intelligence data "fictitious", adding that Mr “we lie, cheat, steal" Pompeo, "is pathetically ending his disastrous career with more warmongering lies."

"No one is fooled," Zarif tweeted. "All 9/11 terrorists came" from Pompeo's "favourite" Middle East "destinations" he added. "NONE from Iran."

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From designating Cuba to fictitious Iran "declassifications” and AQ claims, Mr. “we lie, cheat, steal" is pathetically ending his disastrous career with more warmongering lies. 
 
No one is fooled. All 9/11 terrorists came from <a href="https://twitter.com/SecPompeo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecPompeo</a>'s favorite ME destinations; NONE from Iran.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) <a href="https://twitter.com/JZarif/status/1349018857067991046?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The majority of the perpetrators of the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York came from US-ally Saudi Arabia.

Earlier in on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, without providing hard evidence, that al-Qaeda had established a new home base in Iran.

The New York Times reported in November that al-Qaeda’s Abu Muhammad al-Masri, accused of helping to mastermind the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in Africa, was gunned down by Israeli operatives in Iran. Iran denied the report, saying there were no al-Qaeda “terrorists” on its soil.

Pompeo told a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington that he was announcing publicly for the first time that al-Masri died on August 7 last year.

Pompeo said his presence in Iran was no surprise, and added: “Al-Masri’s presence inside Iran points to the reason that we’re here today ... al-Qaeda has a new home base: it is the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

"I would say Iran is indeed the new Afghanistan –- as the key geographic hub for Al-Qaeda -- but it's actually worse.&nbsp;

"Unlike in Afghanistan, when Al-Qaeda was hiding in the mountains, Al-Qaeda today is operating under the hard shell of the Iranian regime's protection."

(With inputs from agencies)

Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has taken to Twitter to berate the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, after reports emerged that the top American diplomat has accused Tehran of having links with al-Qaeda.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has taken to Twitter to berate the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, after reports emerged that the top American diplomat has accused Tehran of having links with al-Qaeda. In fiery remarks, Zarif called the allegations allegedly based on intelligence data "fictitious", adding that Mr “we lie, cheat, steal" Pompeo, "is pathetically ending his disastrous career with more warmongering lies." "No one is fooled," Zarif tweeted. "All 9/11 terrorists came" from Pompeo's "favourite" Middle East "destinations" he added. "NONE from Iran." From designating Cuba to fictitious Iran "declassifications” and AQ claims, Mr. “we lie, cheat, steal" is pathetically ending his disastrous career with more warmongering lies. No one is fooled. All 9/11 terrorists came from @SecPompeo's favorite ME destinations; NONE from Iran. — Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 12, 2021 × The majority of the perpetrators of the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York came from US-ally Saudi Arabia. Earlier in on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, without providing hard evidence, that al-Qaeda had established a new home base in Iran. The New York Times reported in November that al-Qaeda’s Abu Muhammad al-Masri, accused of helping to mastermind the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in Africa, was gunned down by Israeli operatives in Iran. Iran denied the report, saying there were no al-Qaeda “terrorists” on its soil. Pompeo told a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington that he was announcing publicly for the first time that al-Masri died on August 7 last year. Pompeo said his presence in Iran was no surprise, and added: “Al-Masri’s presence inside Iran points to the reason that we’re here today ... al-Qaeda has a new home base: it is the Islamic Republic of Iran.” "I would say Iran is indeed the new Afghanistan –- as the key geographic hub for Al-Qaeda -- but it's actually worse. "Unlike in Afghanistan, when Al-Qaeda was hiding in the mountains, Al-Qaeda today is operating under the hard shell of the Iranian regime's protection." (With inputs from agencies)

9/11 terrorists came from Pompeo's favourite Middle East destinations: Iran's Foreign Minister

Two French soldiers were killed when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in northeastern Mali on Saturday.

President Emmanuel Macron "learnt with great sadness" of the deaths of Sergeant Yvonne Huynh and Brigadier Loic Risser in the Menaka region, his office said in a statement.

He affirmed France's determination to continue its role in "the battle against terrorism" after the attack.

Huynh, aged 33, was the first female soldier killed in the Sahel region since the French operation began.

Another soldier was wounded in the blast but their life is not in danger.

Notably, a total of 50 French soldiers have been killed since France first intervened in 2013 to help drive back jihadist forces in Mali.

Less than a week ago three French soldiers were killed in Mali also by an improvised explosive device during a mission in the southern region of Hombori.

Al Qaeda's North Africa wing has said it was responsible for that attack, jihadist monitoring organisation SITE Intel reported on Saturday.

SITE Intel said on Twitter Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which has repeatedly attacked soldiers and civilians in Mali and neighbouring Burkina Faso, had said it was responsible for the attack.

The soldiers in both cases were part of France’s Barkhane military operations in Mali against Islamic fighters.

France's Barkhane force numbers 5,100 troops spread across the arid Sahel region and has been fighting jihadist groups alongside soldiers from Mauritania, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, who together make up the G5 Sahel group.

The group, the main jihadist alliance in the Sahel, cited a string of reasons for Saturday's attack including the continuing French military presence in the region, cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed published by a French newspaper and Macron's defence of them in the name of freedom of expression.

Two French soldiers were killed when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in northeastern Mali on Saturday. President Emmanuel Macron "learnt with great sadness" of the deaths of Sergeant Yvonne Huynh and Brigadier Loic Risser in the Menaka region, his office said in a statement.

Two French soldiers were killed when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in northeastern Mali on Saturday. President Emmanuel Macron "learnt with great sadness" of the deaths of Sergeant Yvonne Huynh and Brigadier Loic Risser in the Menaka region, his office said in a statement. He affirmed France's determination to continue its role in "the battle against terrorism" after the attack. Huynh, aged 33, was the first female soldier killed in the Sahel region since the French operation began. Another soldier was wounded in the blast but their life is not in danger. Notably, a total of 50 French soldiers have been killed since France first intervened in 2013 to help drive back jihadist forces in Mali. Less than a week ago three French soldiers were killed in Mali also by an improvised explosive device during a mission in the southern region of Hombori. Al Qaeda's North Africa wing has said it was responsible for that attack, jihadist monitoring organisation SITE Intel reported on Saturday. SITE Intel said on Twitter Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which has repeatedly attacked soldiers and civilians in Mali and neighbouring Burkina Faso, had said it was responsible for the attack. The soldiers in both cases were part of France’s Barkhane military operations in Mali against Islamic fighters. France's Barkhane force numbers 5,100 troops spread across the arid Sahel region and has been fighting jihadist groups alongside soldiers from Mauritania, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, who together make up the G5 Sahel group. The group, the main jihadist alliance in the Sahel, cited a string of reasons for Saturday's attack including the continuing French military presence in the region, cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed published by a French newspaper and Macron's defence of them in the name of freedom of expression.

Bomb kills two French soldiers in Mali

al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden once operated in Sudan. The terror network had planned an attack on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

In 1998, the terror group blew up American embassies in Nairobi and Dar-e-Salaam.

Africa has now become the new jihadist battleground and has been attracting jihadists like never before. In 2010, Boko Haram declared jihad. In the last few years, the Islamic State has moved its operations from Syria and Iraq to the west and east Africa.

al Qaeda has reportedly moved base again from Afghanistan back to Africa.

The jihadist battleground has moved from West Asia to Africa with the battle in Africa quite complex because jihadist groups aren't just fighting each other, they have also been fighting African governments and waging war on the people of Africa which means terror, radicalisation and poverty.

In the last few months, there have been fatal attacks in Dr Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, Mali, Chad, Mozambique and Niger. There is still no information about the schoolgirls who were kidnapped in 2014 and now 300 schoolboys have been taken recently in Nigeria.

As far as radicalisation is concerned, be it the Islamic State, or al Qaeda or Boko Haram, they will all be looking to recruit young people to radicalise the youth and train new jihadists while the Islamic State's graphic beheading videos have become a nightmare.

Jihadist groups have also been looking to recruit youth who have lost hope in their governments and administration and this is where Africa has become the ideal hunting ground.

The continent is laden with poverty, corruption and under-employment with one in three Africans living below the global poverty line which is 422 million people. The youth make up 60 per cent of Africa's unemployed population.

The people of Africa are extremely vulnerable and terror groups have been looking to exploit this vulnerability. Almost 20,000 youth from Tunisia had joined the Islamic State in Syria.&nbsp;Now the ISIS is in Africa.

Terror groups target foreigners namely Europeans and Americans and execute some of them while releasing others. The ransom amount being $120 million according to a report even as Africa stands to lose out on development.

UN peacekeeping forces are already stationed in Africa, however, increased militarisation means added restrictions - Afghanistan is proof that this story doesn't have a happy ending.

It's a vicious cycle - terror, militarisation, human rights problems, radicalisation and back to terror. Africa will have to make a concerted effort to avoid this fate.

al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden once operated in Sudan. The terror network had planned an attack on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. In 1998, the terror group blew up American embassies in Nairobi and Dar-e-Salaam.

al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden once operated in Sudan. The terror network had planned an attack on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. In 1998, the terror group blew up American embassies in Nairobi and Dar-e-Salaam. Africa has now become the new jihadist battleground and has been attracting jihadists like never before. In 2010, Boko Haram declared jihad. In the last few years, the Islamic State has moved its operations from Syria and Iraq to the west and east Africa. al Qaeda has reportedly moved base again from Afghanistan back to Africa. The jihadist battleground has moved from West Asia to Africa with the battle in Africa quite complex because jihadist groups aren't just fighting each other, they have also been fighting African governments and waging war on the people of Africa which means terror, radicalisation and poverty. In the last few months, there have been fatal attacks in Dr Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, Mali, Chad, Mozambique and Niger. There is still no information about the schoolgirls who were kidnapped in 2014 and now 300 schoolboys have been taken recently in Nigeria. As far as radicalisation is concerned, be it the Islamic State, or al Qaeda or Boko Haram, they will all be looking to recruit young people to radicalise the youth and train new jihadists while the Islamic State's graphic beheading videos have become a nightmare. Jihadist groups have also been looking to recruit youth who have lost hope in their governments and administration and this is where Africa has become the ideal hunting ground. The continent is laden with poverty, corruption and under-employment with one in three Africans living below the global poverty line which is 422 million people. The youth make up 60 per cent of Africa's unemployed population. The people of Africa are extremely vulnerable and terror groups have been looking to exploit this vulnerability. Almost 20,000 youth from Tunisia had joined the Islamic State in Syria. Now the ISIS is in Africa. Terror groups target foreigners namely Europeans and Americans and execute some of them while releasing others. The ransom amount being $120 million according to a report even as Africa stands to lose out on development. UN peacekeeping forces are already stationed in Africa, however, increased militarisation means added restrictions - Afghanistan is proof that this story doesn't have a happy ending. It's a vicious cycle - terror, militarisation, human rights problems, radicalisation and back to terror. Africa will have to make a concerted effort to avoid this fate.

Why Africa has become the new jihadist battleground

The Ethiopian government said on Tuesday that Tigrayan soldiers were surrendering in the face of an advance towards the regional capital, but the local forces reported they were resisting and had destroyed a prestigious army division. 
 
Hundreds have died, more than 41,000 refugees have fled to Sudan, and there has been widespread destruction and uprooting of people from homes in the northern Tigray region. 
 
The three-week war has spread to Eritrea, where the Tigrayans have fired rockets, and also affected Somalia where Ethiopia has disarmed several hundred Tigrayans in a peacekeeping force fighting al Qaeda-linked militants. 
 
Reuters has been unable to verify statements made by either side since phone and internet connections to Tigray are down and access to the area is strictly controlled. 
 
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed`s government said many Tigrayan combatants had responded to an ultimatum to lay down arms before a threatened offensive against Mekelle city, with half a million inhabitants. The deadline expires on Wednesday. 
 
"Using the government`s 72-hour period, a large number of Tigray militia and special forces are surrendering. Many have surrendered through the Afar region, and the remaining forces are surrendering peacefully," a government taskforce said. 
 
 
`TRAGIC CONFLICT` 
 
The battle-hardened Tigray People`s Liberation Front (TPLF), which had ruled the region of more than 5 million people, gave a sharply different version, saying their troops were keeping the federal forces at bay and scoring some big victories. 
 
Their spokesman Getachew Reda told Tigray TV an important army unit - which he termed the 21st mechanised division - had been destroyed in an assault at Raya-Wajirat led by a former commander of that unit now fighting for the TPLF. 
 
Billene Seyoum, the prime minister`s spokeswoman, told Reuters that was not true. 
 
The United States - which regards Ethiopia as a powerful ally in a turbulent region - France and Britain were the latest foreign powers to call for peace. 
 
Washington said it supported African Union (AU) mediation efforts "to end this tragic conflict now", while Paris and London warned against ethnic discrimination. 
 
The U.N. Security Council was to hold an informal discussion later on Tuesday over Ethiopia, according to a New York-based U.N. source and an email seen by Reuters. South Africa, as AU chair, was to report on the conflict and de-escalation efforts. 
 
Abiy, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for ending a standoff with Eritrea, has said he will not negotiate with the TPLF, though he does plan to receive AU envoys. 
 
 
MYRIAD ETHNIC GROUPS 
 
His predecessor, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, criticised international mediation efforts by "well-intentioned outsiders" in a piece for Foreign Policy magazine. 
 
"The key problem in the international community’s approach to Ethiopia is the assumption of moral equivalence, which leads foreign governments to adopt an attitude of false balance and bothsidesism" between the federal and Tigrayan sides, he said. 
 
Abiy, whose parents are from the larger Oromo and Amhara groups, denies any ethnic overtones to his offensive against the TPLF, saying he is pursuing criminals who have revolted against the federal government and ambushed a military base. 
 
The TPLF says he wants to subdue Tigray to amass more personal power. Since taking office in 2018, the prime minister has removed many Tigrayans from positions in government and the security forces and arrested some on charges of corruption and human rights abuses, even though he was their former military comrade and coalition partner. 
 
TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael has disputed the government version that Mekelle is encircled at a roughly 50km (31 mile) distance and told Reuters the ultimatum was a cover for government forces to regroup after defeats. 
 
The conflict threatens to destabilise Ethiopia, a vast nation of 115 million people from myriad ethnic groups whose struggles for greater resources and power have intensified since Abiy took office. 
 
Some school students` exams scheduled for December were postponed "due to the current situation in the country," the Education Ministry said. 
 
 
 
(Reporting by Addis Ababa newsroom, Omar Mohammed, Nazanine Moshiri, Maggie Fick and Katharine Houreld in Nairobi; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by William Maclean) 
&nbsp;

The Ethiopian government said on Tuesday that Tigrayan soldiers were surrendering in the face of an advance towards the regional capital, but the local forces reported they were resisting and had destroyed a prestigious army division.

The Ethiopian government said on Tuesday that Tigrayan soldiers were surrendering in the face of an advance towards the regional capital, but the local forces reported they were resisting and had destroyed a prestigious army division. Hundreds have died, more than 41,000 refugees have fled to Sudan, and there has been widespread destruction and uprooting of people from homes in the northern Tigray region. The three-week war has spread to Eritrea, where the Tigrayans have fired rockets, and also affected Somalia where Ethiopia has disarmed several hundred Tigrayans in a peacekeeping force fighting al Qaeda-linked militants. Reuters has been unable to verify statements made by either side since phone and internet connections to Tigray are down and access to the area is strictly controlled. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed`s government said many Tigrayan combatants had responded to an ultimatum to lay down arms before a threatened offensive against Mekelle city, with half a million inhabitants. The deadline expires on Wednesday. "Using the government`s 72-hour period, a large number of Tigray militia and special forces are surrendering. Many have surrendered through the Afar region, and the remaining forces are surrendering peacefully," a government taskforce said. `TRAGIC CONFLICT` The battle-hardened Tigray People`s Liberation Front (TPLF), which had ruled the region of more than 5 million people, gave a sharply different version, saying their troops were keeping the federal forces at bay and scoring some big victories. Their spokesman Getachew Reda told Tigray TV an important army unit - which he termed the 21st mechanised division - had been destroyed in an assault at Raya-Wajirat led by a former commander of that unit now fighting for the TPLF. Billene Seyoum, the prime minister`s spokeswoman, told Reuters that was not true. The United States - which regards Ethiopia as a powerful ally in a turbulent region - France and Britain were the latest foreign powers to call for peace. Washington said it supported African Union (AU) mediation efforts "to end this tragic conflict now", while Paris and London warned against ethnic discrimination. The U.N. Security Council was to hold an informal discussion later on Tuesday over Ethiopia, according to a New York-based U.N. source and an email seen by Reuters. South Africa, as AU chair, was to report on the conflict and de-escalation efforts. Abiy, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for ending a standoff with Eritrea, has said he will not negotiate with the TPLF, though he does plan to receive AU envoys. MYRIAD ETHNIC GROUPS His predecessor, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, criticised international mediation efforts by "well-intentioned outsiders" in a piece for Foreign Policy magazine. "The key problem in the international community’s approach to Ethiopia is the assumption of moral equivalence, which leads foreign governments to adopt an attitude of false balance and bothsidesism" between the federal and Tigrayan sides, he said. Abiy, whose parents are from the larger Oromo and Amhara groups, denies any ethnic overtones to his offensive against the TPLF, saying he is pursuing criminals who have revolted against the federal government and ambushed a military base. The TPLF says he wants to subdue Tigray to amass more personal power. Since taking office in 2018, the prime minister has removed many Tigrayans from positions in government and the security forces and arrested some on charges of corruption and human rights abuses, even though he was their former military comrade and coalition partner. TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael has disputed the government version that Mekelle is encircled at a roughly 50km (31 mile) distance and told Reuters the ultimatum was a cover for government forces to regroup after defeats. The conflict threatens to destabilise Ethiopia, a vast nation of 115 million people from myriad ethnic groups whose struggles for greater resources and power have intensified since Abiy took office. Some school students` exams scheduled for December were postponed "due to the current situation in the country," the Education Ministry said. (Reporting by Addis Ababa newsroom, Omar Mohammed, Nazanine Moshiri, Maggie Fick and Katharine Houreld in Nairobi; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by William Maclean)

Ethiopia says foes surrendering, Tigray forces report battle win

Al Qaeda`s North Africa branch (AQIM) has appointed a new leader and confirmed the death of its former leader Abdelmalek Droukdel who was killed by the French army in June, SITE Intelligence Group said on Saturday.

U.S.-based SITE, which monitors jihadist websites, said AQIM displayed the dead body of its former leader for the first time in a video.

The French army killed Droukdel in Mali after hunting him for more than seven years in the Sahel region.

AQIM said that following Droukdel`s death, another Algerian, Sheikh Mujahid Yazid Mubarak, also known as Abu Ubaida Yusuf al-Annabi, was chosen as successor.

The group also confirmed the death of Swiss Beatrice Stockly who was kidnapped from the Malian city of Timbuktu in January 2016.

Al Qaeda`s North Africa branch (AQIM) has appointed a new leader and confirmed the death of its former leader Abdelmalek Droukdel who was killed by the French army in June, SITE Intelligence Group said on Saturday.

Al Qaeda`s North Africa branch (AQIM) has appointed a new leader and confirmed the death of its former leader Abdelmalek Droukdel who was killed by the French army in June, SITE Intelligence Group said on Saturday. U.S.-based SITE, which monitors jihadist websites, said AQIM displayed the dead body of its former leader for the first time in a video. The French army killed Droukdel in Mali after hunting him for more than seven years in the Sahel region. AQIM said that following Droukdel`s death, another Algerian, Sheikh Mujahid Yazid Mubarak, also known as Abu Ubaida Yusuf al-Annabi, was chosen as successor. The group also confirmed the death of Swiss Beatrice Stockly who was kidnapped from the Malian city of Timbuktu in January 2016.

Al Qaeda in North Africa names new leader to succeed Droukdel

Terror groups including Al-Qaeda and Islamic State are exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to propagate conspiracy theories that the virus is "God's wrath upon the West" and asking terrorists to use it as a form of biological weapon, a UN report claimed.&nbsp;

"Groups associated with ISIL and Al-Qaeda have also spread conspiracy theories that assert that the virus is a ''soldier of Allah'' that is punishing the unbelievers and the enemies that have damaged Muslims over the last years. For example, ISIL and Al-Qaeda claimed that the virus is God's wrath upon the West," the report named ''Stop the virus of disinformation: the malicious use of social media by terrorist, violent extremist and criminal groups during the COVID-19 pandemic'' said.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/report-says-al-qaedas-no-2-leader-was-killed-in-august-iran-refutes-claim-343091">Report says al Qaeda’s No 2 leader was killed in August; Iran refutes claim</a>

The report that was released on Wednesday by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) also said the extremist and violent groups are also using the pandemic to strengthen their support networks, undermine trust in government and even weaponise the deadly virus.&nbsp;

It also said these groups have used social media to peddle Covid-19 conspiracy theories.&nbsp;

Other than fatwas, the Global Fatwa Index has also identified non-official fatwas that called on ISIS members who are infected with the virus to act as "biological bombs" by "deliberately spreading the disease among the organisation's enemies," the report added.&nbsp;

Terror groups including Al-Qaeda and Islamic State are exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to propagate conspiracy theories that the virus is "God's wrath upon the West" and asking terrorists to use it as a form of biological weapon, a UN report claimed.

Terror groups including Al-Qaeda and Islamic State are exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to propagate conspiracy theories that the virus is "God's wrath upon the West" and asking terrorists to use it as a form of biological weapon, a UN report claimed. "Groups associated with ISIL and Al-Qaeda have also spread conspiracy theories that assert that the virus is a ''soldier of Allah'' that is punishing the unbelievers and the enemies that have damaged Muslims over the last years. For example, ISIL and Al-Qaeda claimed that the virus is God's wrath upon the West," the report named ''Stop the virus of disinformation: the malicious use of social media by terrorist, violent extremist and criminal groups during the COVID-19 pandemic'' said. Also read | Report says al Qaeda’s No 2 leader was killed in August; Iran refutes claim The report that was released on Wednesday by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) also said the extremist and violent groups are also using the pandemic to strengthen their support networks, undermine trust in government and even weaponise the deadly virus. It also said these groups have used social media to peddle Covid-19 conspiracy theories. Other than fatwas, the Global Fatwa Index has also identified non-official fatwas that called on ISIS members who are infected with the virus to act as "biological bombs" by "deliberately spreading the disease among the organisation's enemies," the report added.

Al-Qaeda, ISIS using coronavirus to peddle conspiracy theories: UN report

Former US President Barack Obama has claimed that there are many assistants of Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations in Pakistan’s army and this fact is no longer hidden from anyone.

'Pakistan Army has people with close ties to Al-Qaeda', says Former US Prez Barack Obama

Al Qaeda’s second-in-command was killed in Iran in August by Israeli operatives acting at the behest of the United States, a report has claimed.

The New York Times reported on Friday, citing intelligence officials, that Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, who went by the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Masri, was gunned down by two men on a motorcycle in Tehran more than three months ago.

Tehran has, however, denied the report saying there were no al Qaeda "terrorists" on Iranian soil.

"From time to time, Washington and Tel Aviv try to tie Iran to such groups by lying and leaking false information to the media in order to avoid responsibility for the criminal activities of this group and other terrorist groups in the region," Iran's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Abdullash was accused of helping to mastermind the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in Africa.

The killing of Masri, who was seen as a likely successor to al Qaeda’s current leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, was kept secret until now.

The US authorities had been tracking Masri and other al Qaeda operatives in Iran for years, the report said.

Masri was killed along with his daughter, the widow of Osama bin Laden’s son Hamza bin Laden.

Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, who orchestrated the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, was killed in a US raid in Pakistan in 2011.

Al Qaeda’s second-in-command was killed in Iran in August by Israeli operatives acting at the behest of the United States, a report has claimed. The New York Times reported on Friday, citing intelligence officials, that Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, who went by the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Masri, was gunned down by two men on a motorcycle in Tehran more than three months ago.

Al Qaeda’s second-in-command was killed in Iran in August by Israeli operatives acting at the behest of the United States, a report has claimed. The New York Times reported on Friday, citing intelligence officials, that Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, who went by the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Masri, was gunned down by two men on a motorcycle in Tehran more than three months ago. Tehran has, however, denied the report saying there were no al Qaeda "terrorists" on Iranian soil. "From time to time, Washington and Tel Aviv try to tie Iran to such groups by lying and leaking false information to the media in order to avoid responsibility for the criminal activities of this group and other terrorist groups in the region," Iran's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Abdullash was accused of helping to mastermind the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in Africa. The killing of Masri, who was seen as a likely successor to al Qaeda’s current leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, was kept secret until now. The US authorities had been tracking Masri and other al Qaeda operatives in Iran for years, the report said. Masri was killed along with his daughter, the widow of Osama bin Laden’s son Hamza bin Laden. Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, who orchestrated the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, was killed in a US raid in Pakistan in 2011.

Report says al Qaeda’s No 2 leader was killed in August; Iran refutes claim

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