John Bolton warns of terrorist threats remerging in Afghanistan

John Bolton, the former U.S. National Security Adviser, has expressed concern about the resurgence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan. During a recent televised debate, Bolton warned that the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021 has created conditions for terrorist organizations, like ISIS-K (ISIS Khorasan), to regroup and potentially threaten the United States. He emphasized that from the 9/11 attacks until the U.S. withdrawal, no major terrorist attacks against the U.S. had originated from Afghanistan.

Bolton criticized the U.S. withdrawal as a significant mistake, echoing concerns shared by other officials who worry about the ongoing presence of ISIS and other extremist groups in the region. Despite recent attacks claimed by ISIS in Kabul and other provinces, the Taliban assert that they have subdued ISIS, minimizing the group’s ability to operate effectively in Afghanistan. However, Bolton and others remain skeptical about the Taliban's ability to fully contain the threat.