Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – John Bolton, the former U.S. National Security Advisor, has issued a stark warning about the resurgence of foreign terrorist fighters returning to Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover. Speaking at a recent debate, Bolton highlighted the significant changes in the security landscape since the U.S. military withdrawal in August 2021.
Reflecting on the two decades of American presence in Afghanistan, Bolton noted that there were no terrorist attacks against the United States originating from the region from the time of the September 11 attacks until the U.S. withdrawal. “We went to Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban, defeat al-Qaeda, and prevent future attacks on the U.S.,” he stated, attributing the absence of terrorist incidents to the robust military presence in the country.
Bolton condemned the U.S. exit as a “catastrophic mistake,” directly linking it to former President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw American forces. “If we had stayed, the Taliban would not be in charge,” he asserted, emphasizing that although the former Afghan government was “imperfect,” it was a more stable alternative to the current regime.
In addition to the Taliban’s resurgence, Bolton raised concerns about the ongoing threat posed by ISIS-K, the Islamic State’s affiliate in Afghanistan. He referred to testimony from the Biden administration that acknowledged the group’s capability to execute attacks against the U.S. “ISIS-K has already launched attacks in countries like Iran and Russia earlier this year,” Bolton warned, underscoring the urgency of addressing these threats.
The rapid takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban following the collapse of the previous government has led to heightened fears about the return of international terrorism, with experts warning that the situation could create a breeding ground for extremist activities.
