ALARMING RISE OF MILITANT NETWORKS IN TALIBAN-HELD AREAS IN AFGHANISTAN

Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the country has once again become a critical epicenter for global terrorism.

- DR. NISHAKANT OJHA

Despite assurances in the Doha Agreement, the Taliban has failed to sever ties with transnational extremist networks. Instead, Afghanistan has transformed into a fertile ground where militant groups regroup, recruit, and reassert influence across South and Central Asia.

This investigative analysis maps the alarming evolution of extremist dynamics in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan—from the emergence of foreign-led training facilities to regional destabilization and international security consequences.

RISE OF 'MUHAJIR TACTICAL'
One of the most dangerous developments in post-2021 Afghanistan is the establishment of a paramilitary training base known as Muhajir Tactical, reportedly led by Syrian jihadist commander Ayoub Muhajir. Located in an undisclosed Afghan province, this facility serves as a key site for military training, ideological indoctrination, and inter-group coordination among extremist outfits.

Fighters from al-Qaeda, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Uyghur extremist factions such as ETIM, and Jamaat Ansarullah (Tajikistan) are being trained under Muhajir's command. The camp is said to include: Small arms and insurgency training ranges, improvised explosive device (IED) labs, encrypted communications and surveillance systems.

The facility signals a transition from fragmented terror cells to a centralized insurgent infrastructure—under the de facto protection of the Taliban.

TALIBAN'S BROKEN PROMISES
While the Taliban claims to distance itself from groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS-K, independent watchdogs and UN reports indicate otherwise. Al-Qaeda remains deeply embedded in provinces such as Ghazni, Laghman, Parwan, Uruzgan, and Panjshir, where it maintains training camps and logistical hubs (UNSC, 2024; FDD, 2024).