This is John Bachelor, a conversation with my colleague Bill Radyo of the Foundation

for the Defense of Democracies.

I learned that aside from the article in the Washington Post and other papers saying

that ISIS was a transnational threat now based out of Afghanistan, Bill emphasizes that

al-Qaeda is the much more grave threat.

With billions of dollars of equipment and cash left from the abandonment of Afghanistan

by the United States and its allies in 2021, and major leaders said to be back in

Kabul, al-Qaeda is the threat working very closely with the Taliban.

Here's Bill Radyo.

Larger threat, the more long-term threat that emanates from Afghanistan is the enduring

Taliban al-Qaeda alliance.

Remember, the Islamic State is the enemy of the Taliban.

They're both enemies because the Islamic State wants the Taliban in al-Qaeda to submit

to its caliph or its leader.

The Taliban refuses to do so and it remains in the al-Qaeda camp.

The Taliban wants primacy of the jihad in Afghanistan.

It controls the fully controlled country.

The Taliban has given al-Qaeda safe haven and support in Afghanistan.

Of course, it has.

The two have forged enduring bonds that have after fighting in Afghanistan for 20 years

against the US and the Taliban won with the support of al-Qaeda in a host of other regional

and global tar groups that are based in the region.

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