Washington, D.C. – Gen Kenneth Frank McKenzie, the former head of the US Central Command (Centcom), has articulated that the militant Islamic State group (IS) poses a more sustained and substantial threat than Al Qaeda following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. This alarming assessment came to light during his recent appearances on television interviews.
Current Centcom chief, Gen Erik Kurilla, echoed these apprehensions in a recent interview, suggesting that IS could potentially execute an “external operation” against the United States within six months.
Reflecting on Gen Kurilla’s warning, Gen McKenzie stated his belief that IS has harbored a persistent desire to launch attacks on American soil, considering it a fundamental objective. He further lamented that the withdrawal from Afghanistan has significantly complicated the pursuit of counterterrorism objectives.
Gen McKenzie, who retired in April of the previous year, commanded Centcom, responsible for operations spanning the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia, during the tumultuous withdrawal period. His purview encompassed both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In exclusive interviews with Fox News and CBS, Gen McKenzie noted that Al Qaeda had exhibited signs of weakening since the August 2021 pullout. However, he emphasized his conviction that ISIS, particularly in Afghanistan, has exploited the extensive ungoverned regions within the country to consolidate its strength.
Gen McKenzie delivered a stark warning that history would likely judge the US withdrawal from Afghanistan as a fatal flaw that allowed militant groups to regain a foothold in the region. He voiced his regrets about the US evacuation from Afghanistan, citing it as a deeply flawed decision.
The general’s sentiment regarding the withdrawal echoes his statement from March of the previous year, in which he expressed his belief that he would regret the decision for the remainder of his life. This decision ultimately facilitated the rapid Taliban takeover of Afghanistan as American citizens and refugees sought safety.
President Joe Biden marked the 9/11 anniversary with a message urging the international community to unite against the “rising tide of hatred and extremism and political violence,” both domestically and abroad.
A UN report, discussed during a Security Council meeting in New York last month, highlighted the connection between IS and the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). It noted that TTP and other groups affiliated with the Taliban have been supplying IS with NATO-caliber weapons. The report emphasized that IS and its affiliates, including TTP, continue to pose a serious threat in conflict zones and neighboring countries.
While the banned TTP has a history of targeting locations within Pakistan, IS has also launched recent attacks within Pakistan, such as the tragic incident at a JUI-F convention in July that claimed 40 lives.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar recently asserted that terror groups are now utilizing equipment left behind by US forces to carry out attacks within Pakistan.
Contrary to these claims, White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby disputed the suggestion that the United States had abandoned $7 billion worth of weapons and equipment in Afghanistan, contending that any equipment left behind was rendered unusable as part of the evacuation efforts.
