25 Years After 9/11, Al Qaeda Still Has a Home in Afghanistan

What the report says

The New York Times World reports that, 25 years after the Sept. 11 attacks, Afghanistan remains a place where Al Qaeda is still present, despite the Taliban’s assertions that the country is no longer a haven for terrorist groups. The article says the Taliban have been trying to present Afghanistan as free of such sanctuaries, but the continued presence of Al Qaeda and other militants has revived longstanding concerns about the country’s role in transnational extremism.

The piece frames the issue as both a security and political test for the Taliban, who returned to power in 2021 and have since sought international legitimacy while insisting they will not allow Afghan territory to be used against other countries. According to the published snippet, that message is being challenged by evidence that extremist networks remain active.

The broader significance is tied to the legacy of 9/11 and the U.S.-led campaign that followed. Even if the scale and capabilities of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan are not fully detailed in the available text, the report suggests that its persistence underscores unresolved questions about Taliban governance, counterterrorism monitoring, and the risk that Afghanistan could again serve as a base for militant groups. This summary is based on the limited source excerpt provided by the publisher.