The United States has announced a sharp escalation in security reviews after confirming that the presence of Al Qaeda, ISIS Khorasan and the Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan in Afghanistan has increased since the Biden administration’s withdrawal. The Department of Homeland Security said the strengthened foothold of these groups has made screening Afghan entrants significantly more difficult.
A senior DHS and national security official stated in a social media message that the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban takeover enabled multiple extremist organisations, including ISIS K and TTP, to reorganise and expand their networks. According to the official, this shift has created “serious challenges” for US vetting systems designed to identify threats among Afghan arrivals.
The Trump administration, which has reimposed stricter security protocols, has suspended the resettlement of Afghan refugees on national security grounds. It has also launched a comprehensive reassessment of green cards belonging to foreign nationals from nineteen countries, including Afghans, as part of a broader effort to prevent infiltration by members or affiliates of terrorist groups.
Officials say the enhanced scrutiny reflects growing concerns in Washington about the resurgence of militancy in Afghanistan and its potential spillover effects on US soil.
