"We believe that the top leadership of Al Qaeda is still under Taliban protection," said the head of the U.N. panel that tracks terrorist groups in Afghanistan.
WASHINGTON — The Afghan Taliban have kept up a close relationship with Al Qaeda despite having pledged to stop cooperating with terrorist groups, permitting the militants to conduct training in Afghanistan and deploy fighters alongside its forces, according to the head of a U.N. panel monitoring the insurgency.
The Taliban's association with Al Qaeda has continued even though the insurgency signed an agreement with the U.S. a year ago that bans cooperation with or hosting of terrorist groups — and despite a public statement by Trump administration Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the Taliban had "made the break" with terrorist groups.
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Update: Taliban Keeps Close Ties with Al-Qaeda: Report (TOLO News)
WNU Editor: The US is saying the same thing that the UN report is saying .... Al-Qaeda 'Gaining Strength' in Afghanistan: US Treasury (TOLO News).
In the meantime the Taliban are saying there are no Al qaeda fighters in Afghanistan .... Taliban falsely claims: ‘There are no Al Qaeda operatives present in Afghanistan’ (Long War Journal).
