This is John Batcher, conversation with my good colleague Bill Rajav, the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy.

He keeps the Long War Journal about the Taliban in Afghanistan now here in 2024, answering the questions, does Al Qaeda's presence in the

training camps throughout the land strengthen the Taliban and is the

Taliban stronger today than it was when it ruled Afghanistan in the late 20th century?

Bill answers both questions and the answers are disturbing and challenging to future administrations.

Bill Rajo, Foundation for the Defense of Democracy, Afghanistan right now under the

Taliban rule. More of this later.

Yeah, I'll answer the second question.

First, the al-Qaeda certainly strengthens the Taliban.

For instance, when the Taliban wanted to,

when it went into panchir,

after they took over the government and put down the last

vestige of resistance, al-Qaeda fighters by the hundreds flocked to panchir because they're

willing to take that fight and they were the

Taliban rewarded al-Qaeda by allowing them to open up a weapon storage depot in

pincher province this is not according to. This is according to the United Nations analytical

support and sanctions and monitoring team.

So that relationship remains strong. It's a symbiotic relationship.

Al Qaeda provides a lot of expertise and manpower to the Taliban.

And, you know, so, and Al Qaeda gets to survive and thrive, open up training camps in 10 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces.

As far as is the Taliban stronger today or more organized today than it was in the 1990s,

I resoundingly say yes. In the you know on

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