Even before the recent developments in Afghanistan, the global terrorism threat
had become multifaceted and more complex. The international terror net


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CEP Webinar: Future Terrorism And Security Challenges Emanating From
Afghanistan

 

(Berlin/New York, N.Y.) – Even before the recent developments in Afghanistan,
the global terrorism threat had become multifaceted and more complex. The
international terror networks of al-Qaeda and ISIS affiliates remained
resilient—resisting sustained pressure in many regions of the world and even
developing new structures in Africa. The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan now
presents a further shift in this threat environment with multiple emerging
security challenges.

 

The Taliban’s symbiotic relationship with al-Qaeda, sustained over the last 20
years, calls into question their ability and willingness to control
al-Qaeda-linked structures and fighters in Afghanistan. ISIS’s affiliate in
Afghanistan stands ready to receive disgruntled Taliban members, with the
August 26 attack on Kabul airport demonstrating ISIS-K’s destructive power.
Terrorist sympathizers online have been celebrating what they perceive to be a
victory of the Taliban and al-Qaeda, raising the specter that Afghanistan could
become again a magnet and safe harbor for aspiring terrorists.

 

In addition to their connection to violence and terrorism, the Taliban are
also a large-scale, multifaceted criminal enterprise, responsible for the
production of the majority of opium and heroin worldwide, most of it flowing to
Europe, Russia, Asia, and Africa. The international drug trade has been the
Taliban’s main income stream since the movement’s inception, offering little
hope that drug production in Afghanistan will reduce in the near future.

 

To discuss these challenges and how the evolving situation may impact security
and the terrorism threat in Europe, the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) has
engaged a range of eminent experts for this webinar.

 

The webinar will be conducted in English via Zoom.

 

Date:    Thursday, September 23, 2021

Time:   11:00 a.m. ET / 17:00 CET

 

EVENT PROGRAM

 

Moderator and introductory remarks: Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director
at CEP

 

Speakers:

 

Amb. Edmund Fitton-Brown    Coordinator of the ISIL, al-Qaida and Taliban
Monitoring Team,

                                                    United Nations Security
Council

 

Sofia Koller                              Research fellow, German Council on
Foreign Relations (DGAP)

 

Dr. Guido Steinberg                 Senior fellow, German Institute for
International and Security Affairs (SWP)

 

The presentations will be followed by a Q&A session open to all participants.

 

If you like to participate in this webinar, please register via the following
link:

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Please feel free to share this invitation with colleagues.

 

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