Recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan open
the door for new competition amongst terrorist groups to appear once again on
the global scene. One of the strategic objectives of these groups is to
diminish the authority of the Taliban, whose current recognition and authority
they covet.
اضافة اعلان
This competition among terrorist groups could expand
the areas of conflict and increase their number, based on their existing
geographic presence.
Central Asia is
becoming one of the most active areas, as groups operating in Afghanistan and
the surrounding areas seek to emulate the Taliban model, increasing the area of
controlled territory. As such, clashes and conflicts, such as the one between
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, could offer fertile ground for these groups that
appear to have growing ambitions to expand beyond Afghanistan’s borders.
The southern part
of Syria, Iraq and Kurdistan might also be affected by the strong presence of
such groups, particularly Daesh and Al Qaeda, which show desire to emerge
again. The time is ripe: the combination of growing economic frustration,
hardships, and reduced trust in public policies which will create fertile
ground for terrorist groups to operate, recruit and re-emerge.
... addressing the connection between criminality and terrorism is vital in countering any future emergence of any terrorist groups.
The terrorist
groups across the region did not disappear; the rising criminality makes it
clear that they have just pivoted to the drug trade that is invading the
countries of the region. They have created a parallel economy to maintain their
groups, militias, and even some countries. Therefore, addressing the connection
between criminality and terrorism is vital in countering any future emergence
of any terrorist groups.
It is also critical
to anticipate this risk by activating the work of the international coalition,
with a prevention strategy not just intervention. The work of the coalition
should help shape global policies vis-à-vis terrorism, but also its other side,
criminality, and in particular the drug trade.
This coalition could
also help build consensus around global policies, leveraging the fact that
there is more agreement than disagreement in fighting terrorism. This
undoubtedly can restore hopes to solutions can be found for some other
long-term and complicated problems in the region, such as in Syria, Iraq, Yemen
and Lebanon.
Paying extra
attention to what is going on in Afghanistan now might help anticipate the
spark of threats in different areas, facing different groups, from al-Qaeda in
Yemen to Daesh incarnations in Syria and Iraq.
Amer Al-Sabaileh is a Jordanian university professor and
geopolitical expert. He is a leading columnist in national, regional, and
international media, offers consultancies to think tanks and speaks at
international conferences on Middle East politics and developments.
Read more Opinion and Analysis
Jordan News
.jpg)
.jpg)
