The Times Of India, September 17, 2024

Osama’s ’dead son’ is alive, leading al-Qaida in Afghanistan and has terrifying plans

Hamza bin Laden, son of Osama bin Laden, has assumed leadership of al-Qaida and is spearheading its resurgence in Afghanistan. With new training camps and support from the Taliban, al-Qaida is rebuilding its capabilities to launch attacks on Western nations. This development raises significant concerns about future terrorist activities targeting the West.

The world is now, slowly but surely, realising that all the talk of Taliban 2.0 was just a ploy by the militant group to smoothen its take over of Afghanistan. The Taliban 2.0 is no different than Taliban 1.0. All the restrictions on girls and women are back. Terror groups are again being allowed to set up based and training camps.

Pakistan, the main advocate of Taliban 2.0, has seen a resurgence in terror attacksTehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), popularly known as Pakistan Taliban, is having a free run in Afghanistan.

Pakistan, the main advocate of Taliban 2.0, has seen a resurgence in terror attacks by TTP from safe havens in Afghanistan. TTP has openly declared its goal of toppling Pakistan's democratically elected government. The group aims to replace the current system with an emirate that adheres to its strict interpretation of Islamic law.

TTP's violent campaign has resulted in the deaths of numerous individuals, including members of Pakistan's defense forces, law enforcement agencies, and civilian population.

Now, there are reports that even al-Qaida is regrouping and is acquiring abilities to plan and launch terror attacks on Western nations.

Driving the news

New intelligence reports reveal that Hamza bin Laden, the son of Osama bin Laden, has taken command of al-Qaida, contradicting claims that he was killed in a 2019 US airstrike. Hamza, known as the "Crown Prince of Terror," is now believed to be playing a pivotal role in the terror group's resurgence, overseeing the establishment of new training camps in Afghanistan, as al-Qaida rebuilds its capabilities to launch attacks against Western nations, including Britain and the US, a report in UK's Mirror said. Experts warn that Hamza’s leadership is reinvigorating the group and deepening its ties with the Taliban.

Hamza’s brother, Abdullah bin Laden, is also thought to be involved in al-Qaida’s operations, creating a powerful family-led terror dynasty with a shared mission to spread chaos, much like their father before them.

Hamza bin Laden and his four wives are believed to have sheltered in Iran for several years to evade the CIA. Despite claims of his death in a 2019 US air strike in Afghanistan, no DNA proof was acquired to confirm his demise. The recent intelligence suggests that Hamza uses safe houses in various Afghan provinces to facilitate the movement of al-Qaida members to and from Iran, the Mirror report said.

The reports suggest that Hamza’s survival and resurgence could mark al-Qaida’s most potent revival since the Iraq War, sparking fears of a new wave of terrorist activity aimed at the West, the Mirror report said.

Why it matters

Hamza bin Laden’s leadership represents a renewed threat from al-Qaida, a group that had been largely quiet following the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011 and the killing of Osama’s successor, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in a 2022 US drone strike. With Hamza at the helm, al-Qaida has been regrouping in Afghanistan, taking advantage of the Taliban’s return to power after the US withdrawal in 2021.

This resurgence could have dire consequences for the West. Afghanistan is now home to a growing number of terror training camps, where fighters and suicide bombers are being prepared for attacks on Western targets. The Taliban, despite earlier promises to cut ties with terror groups, has allowed al-Qaida to re-establish itself within the country, further complicating the security situation.

According to some reports, there are as many as 21 different terror networks operating in Afghanistan, making it the world's most concentrated terror hotspot.

The fact that these camps are being built in areas where Western forces previously fought—such as Helmand and Ghazni provinces—underscores the symbolic and strategic threat posed by al-Qaida’s resurgence. The presence of these camps, coupled with the growing strength of al-Qaida, has sparked fears that another 9/11-style attack could be in the works. "The parallels between the current situation and the prelude to the 9/11 attacks are alarming," said one intelligence analysis seen by the Mirror.

The big picture

Al-Qaida’s comeback is closely tied to the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan. Since the fall of Kabul in 2021, the Taliban has maintained a strong relationship with al-Qaida, providing the terror group with safe havens and training facilities.

This collaboration is not new; the Taliban and al-Qaida have shared deep historical ties dating back to the 1990s when Osama bin Laden first established al-Qaida’s headquarters in Afghanistan. These ties persisted despite the US-led invasion in 2001, and they are now stronger than ever.

According to a recent report from the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, al-Qaida has opened eight new training camps across Afghanistan in 2024. These camps are situated in provinces like Ghazni, Laghman, Parwan, Uruzgan, and Helmand—many of which were once battlegrounds for US and British forces fighting the Taliban. In addition to these camps, al-Qaida has established five madrasas (religious schools) in areas such as Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, which serve as breeding grounds for new recruits.

Hamza bin Laden has reportedly played a key role in this resurgence. Intelligence suggests that Hamza, now in his 30s, has been living in Afghanistan under the protection of senior Taliban leaders, holding regular meetings with them to coordinate al-Qaida’s activities.

Hamza is also believed to have received support from Sirajuddin Haqqani, an Afghan warlord and leader of the infamous Haqqani network. Haqqani, who is linked to multiple terror attacks in Afghanistan, is said to be sheltering Hamza and his family in the country, further strengthening the ties between the Taliban and al-Qaida.

"The resurgence and stronger ties between the Taliban and al-Qaida and the establishment of its training camps in Afghanistan represent a profound threat to the West," said one intelligence dossier. Western officials are particularly concerned that the Taliban is facilitating the movement of al-Qaida operatives between Afghanistan and Iran, allowing them to regroup and plan attacks with minimal interference.

What they’re saying

Colonel Richard Kemp, former chief of UK forces in Afghanistan, has voiced strong concerns about Hamza’s role in al-Qaida’s resurgence. "Hamza now appears to have an open field in Afghanistan and will be intent on conquest and vengeance for his father," Kemp told the Mirror. He warns that Hamza’s leadership, combined with the Taliban’s tolerance for terror groups, could lead to a new wave of attacks on the West.

“Hamza bin Laden is not only alive but actively involved in al-Qaida’s resurgence, a fact well-known among senior Taliban leaders. These leaders engage with him, holding regular meetings and securing him and his family," reads an intelligence report. Another source said, "[Hamza] has ascended to the leadership of al-Qaida, steering [it] towards its most potent resurgence since the Iraq War."

Beyond Western intelligence, Afghan resistance groups have also expressed alarm over the growing presence of al-Qaida in the country, a Foreign Policy report said. Ali Maisam Nazary, a senior leader of Afghanistan’s National Resistance Front (NRF), said during a visit to Washington: “The Taliban have allowed al-Qaida to build bases and munitions depots in the heart of the Panjshir Valley. We’re seeing all the lights blinking red.”

Between the lines

While Hamza’s survival and leadership have reignited fears of another large-scale attack, the situation in Afghanistan is part of a broader pattern of growing extremism in the region. Alongside al-Qaida, other terror groups, such as the Islamic State’s Khorasan branch (ISIS-K), Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, have been expanding their influence in Afghanistan, thanks to the Taliban’s inability or unwillingness to crack down on extremist factions.

The United Nations has also noted an increasing presence of foreign fighters in Afghanistan, with militants from Arab countries, Central Asia, and even Europe flocking to the country to train and join the fight. This influx of fighters, combined with the training camps run by al-Qaida and other groups, makes Afghanistan a global epicenter of jihadist activity.

Moreover, the growing ties between al-Qaida and ISIS-K are particularly concerning. Previously, the two groups were rivals, but new intelligence reports suggest that they are now cooperating, with reports of inter-marriages between members of the two factions. This alliance mirrors past collaborations between key terrorist leaders and signals a new, more unified threat to the West.

What’s next

The resurgence of al-Qaida in Afghanistan poses significant challenges for Western governments. Despite Taliban assurances that they would prevent Afghanistan from becoming a haven for terrorism, the reality on the ground suggests that the opposite is happening. The US and its allies must now reassess their counterterrorism strategies, particularly as al-Qaida rebuilds its infrastructure and strengthens its alliances with other terror groups.

Intelligence experts warn that the growth of these training camps and the re-establishment of al-Qaida’s networks could lead to future attacks, not only in the Middle East but also in Europe and the US. "Al-Qaida is regrouping and preparing for future attacks on Western targets," said one report seen by the Mirror. The report also highlighted the possibility of another 9/11-style attack, driven by the symbolic and strategic weight of Hamza bin Laden’s leadership.

With Hamza at the hem and the Taliban providing cover, the threat posed by al-Qaida is as potent as ever. Western governments, particularly in the US and Britain, must remain vigilant and develop new strategies to counter this growing danger.

Characters Count: 11951