[[Islamic Extremism Index]] # Implications of the US Forces’ Withdrawal on the Af-Pak Jihadist Landscape Author(s): Farhan Zahid Source: Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses , June 2021, Vol. 13, No. 3 (June 2021), pp. 10-14 Published by: International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/27040261 ![[Implications of the US Forces’ Withdrawal on the Af-Pak Jihadist Landscape.pdf]] [[29-08-2021 1]] My Note: US forces leaving power vacuum in Afghanistan, and there will be more violence between various jihadist group vying for power. Taliban vs ISK, Al-qaeda return, Afghanistan becoming "terror hub" again? --- ## Introduction - US position of staying and withdrawing unclear. Different administration have different plans - Afghan Taliban need to oust Al-Qaeda. - - i read somewhere that Pakistan back the Taliban, - Pakistan is dealing with it's own internal jihadist militancy. ## Taliban - Al-Qaeda Relations - Before 2001, Jihadist groups find havens in Afghanistan. Receive training from Al-Qaeda-run camps, during Taliban rule (1996-2001). - Taliban protect Al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda also pledged allegiance to Afghan leaders since 1999. - ## Islamic State of Khorasan (ISIS-K) - Taliban sworn enemy is the ISIS-K since it's rise in 2015 - US withdraw now create instability between ISK vs Taliban in the region. - Now ISK cells may spread in Afghan. - States with weak governance will fall, like Somalia, Yemen, Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Mozambique. - Afghan may experience cross-border incursions from all these countries. ## Pakistan TTP, in Pakistan. - Pakistan vs TTP, TTP went over to border area, from there, they launch operation in Pakistan. - Influx of TTP good for ISK recruitment. TTP is a conglomerate of jihadist groups, including some cells of LeJ, Harkal-ul- Mujahedeen, Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami, Jaish- e-Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Omar, and others. Anti-Shia group, LeJ - Also found safe haven in Afghan.