Pentagon official, Colin Kahl issued a warning stating that an Afghanistan terrorist group could attack Western countries within the next six months. During his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Kahl claimed that US intelligence has information that ISIS-K has enough resources to launch an attack in the coming months.
He firmly states they don’t have the capability to do this now, but could develop it over time. As stated on The Wall Street Journal, Kahl stated that ISIS-K could gain enough strength and capability to launch an attack within the next 6 to 12 months. According to the intelligence community, it may take a year or two for al-Qaeda to regain its strength.
WATCH his statement:
Kahl went on to say that the Taliban and ISIS-K are adversaries who are highly motivated to attack each other, with the Taliban thought to go after ISIS-K first.
This is not the first time a Pentagon official has warned the Western world about ISIS-K. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned the committee about terrorist groups with the capability to attack the United States within one to three years.
Milley emphasized the importance of protecting the United States from future terrorist attacks, particularly now that the Taliban have taken control of Afghanistan. In the coming years, a reformed al-Qaeda or ISIS could have aspirations to target the United States. With today’s safety precautions, the mission would be much more difficult than before, but Milley advises being watchful.
Soon after Kahl’s claim, the US State Department announced that hundreds of American citizens remain in Afghanistan, including 176 pleading for help. Three hundred seventy-four people, both Americans and foreign nationals, were evacuated from Afghanistan by a rescue squad organized by US veterans.