The Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, Representative Bill Huizenga, issued a stark warning on Thursday, stating that Afghanistan remains a breeding ground for terrorism despite Taliban assurances under the Doha peace agreement. Speaking during a subcommittee hearing on regional security, Huizenga sharply criticised the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, describing it as “rushed” and asserting that it has fundamentally altered the region’s terrorist threat landscape. “Afghanistan has once again become a safe haven for terrorist groups,” he said.
Huizenga identified ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as the most pressing threats emanating from the region, warning that both groups are expanding their operational reach to carry out attacks not only in South and Central Asia but across the globe. “Groups like ISIS-K and TTP are now more prominent than ever,” he stated, noting that Pakistan has suffered the highest number of terrorist attacks in recent years.
Despite Taliban claims of having neutralised extremist threats, Huizenga pointed to their clear failure to contain ISIS-K. He warned that the group remains highly active, capable of launching deadly attacks and recruiting operatives, particularly from migrant communities beyond Central Asia.
He recalled ISIS-K’s 2021 suicide bombing at Kabul airport that killed over 170 people, as well as the group’s recent operations in Russia, Iran, and its foiled plot to target the upcoming Paris Summer Olympics, as evidence of its expanding international footprint.
Reaffirming Washington’s continued leadership in global counterterrorism, Huizenga stressed that the United States remains deeply committed to supporting regional allies. “The United States remains committed to supporting our allies in the region as they confront these persistent threats,” he said, underlining America’s cooperation with international partners through both bilateral agreements and multilateral mechanisms.
The remarks come amid growing concern over the resurgence of extremist networks in Afghanistan and their implications for international security.
