U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has raised concerns over ungoverned spaces in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, warning that they may serve as operational grounds for extremist groups. In a recent interview with former CBS correspondent Catherine Herridge on the social media platform X, Rubio addressed intelligence reports suggesting that al-Qaida and the Islamic State (ISIS) could be establishing safe havens in the country.
While Rubio stopped short of directly comparing the current situation to the conditions before the September 11, 2001, attacks, he acknowledged that the lack of full governmental control in Afghanistan has created opportunities for terrorist organizations to operate.
“I wouldn’t say it’s the pre-9/11 landscape,” Rubio said, “but anytime you have governing spaces that are contested, that you don’t have a government that has full control of every part of their territory, it creates the opportunity for these groups.”
Rubio’s remarks reflect growing U.S. concerns about the resurgence of militant activity in Afghanistan since the Taliban retook power in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces.
One of Rubio’s key concerns is the lack of U.S. military presence on the ground, which previously enabled Washington to conduct counterterrorism operations with precision strikes and intelligence gathering.
“The difference between today and 10 years ago is that we don’t have American elements on the ground to target and go after them,” Rubio noted.
Since the U.S. withdrawal, Washington has relied on “over-the-horizon” counterterrorism strikes, which involve using drones and intelligence assets from outside Afghanistan’s borders. However, experts argue that such operations are less effective than direct military engagement, as they rely on fragmented intelligence and limited regional cooperation.
The absence of U.S. ground forces also makes it harder to monitor the movements of extremist groups, assess their capabilities, and disrupt their operations before they pose a direct threat to American interests or allies.
Rubio acknowledged that the Taliban’s response to extremist threats has been mixed. While the group has reportedly taken action against Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K), a regional affiliate of ISIS, its stance on al-Qaida remains ambiguous.
“In some cases, the Taliban has been cooperative when told that ISIS or al-Qaida is operating in this part of your country and to go after them,” Rubio said. “Not so much in other cases.”
The Taliban has long maintained that they do not allow foreign terrorist organizations to operate within Afghanistan. In their Doha Agreement with the U.S. in 2020, the Taliban pledged not to harbor terrorist groups that could threaten international security. However, several intelligence reports suggest that al-Qaida maintains ties with the Taliban leadership, raising questions about the group's ability—and willingness—to fully crack down on extremist factions.
Beyond Afghanistan, Rubio emphasized that the terrorist threat is not confined to the region. He suggested that ISIS-K, in particular, is expanding its ambitions beyond Afghanistan’s borders, posing a wider international security challenge.
“So, I would say that I wouldn’t compare it to pre-9/11, but it’s certainly far more uncertain—and it’s not just limited to Afghanistan,” Rubio stated.
ISIS-K has been responsible for a series of deadly attacks both inside Afghanistan and in neighboring countries. In recent months, the group has targeted diplomatic missions, religious gatherings, and security forces, signaling its growing operational capability.
The Taliban did not immediately respond to Rubio’s remarks, but they have repeatedly dismissed claims that terrorist groups are regrouping on Afghan soil. They continue to assert that they control the entire country and have successfully eradicated all extremist threats.
However, U.S. officials remain skeptical. The Biden administration has maintained economic sanctions on the Taliban government and continues to work with regional allies, including Pakistan and Central Asian nations, to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for global terrorism.
Moving forward, the U.S. faces difficult policy choices in countering emerging threats in Afghanistan. With no military presence on the ground, Washington must rely on:
Intelligence-sharing agreements with regional partners,Over-the-horizon drone operations,Diplomatic pressure on the Taliban to uphold counterterrorism commitments.
The future stability of Afghanistan—and the security of the region—will depend on whether the Taliban can effectively control extremist factions within its borders or whether groups like ISIS-K and al-Qaida will exploit Afghanistan’s fragile security landscape.
