Al Qaeda Wants To Forge Stronger Ties With The Afghan Taliban

© REUTERS/ Stringer

Washington Times: Al Qaeda seeks partnership with Taliban for comeback

U.S. counterterrorism operations expand focus.

Al Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan are plotting a comeback, forging strong ties with the Afghan Taliban and other indigenous terrorist groups in an attempt to reassert its presence as the Islamic State continues to gain ground in the eastern part of the country.

Roughly 100 to 300 al Qaeda members are active in Afghanistan, concentrated in the eastern provinces of Kunar and Ghazni and in Kandahar province in the south, Army Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland, deputy chief of staff for communications for Operation Resolute Support, the name of the NATO mission in Afghanistan, said Thursday.

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Update: US Military: Al-Qaida Working More Closely With the Taliban (AP)

WNU Editor: Apparently it has been a good poppy harvest this year .... Taliban expect to gain big from banner poppy crop in Afghanistan, US general says (FOX News). More here .... Taliban Gets 'Windfall' from Poppy Harvest to Fund Offensives (Military.com). The U.S. military is also expecting the next Taliban offensive to occur in Helmand .... US general: Helmand province likely site of next Taliban offensive as poppy harvest ends (Stars and Stripes).