From The BBC: Afghanistan: The pledge binding al-Qaeda to the Taliban

[abqtommy]

This is a very informative article. There are a lot of short paragraphs and it's difficult
to get across the main points that The Taliban and al-Qaeda remain allies, with
ISIS as their enemy. One thing I have to wonder about is whether China, Pakistan
and Russia will defend Afghanistan and The Taliban against ISIS? That's my
question and it doesn't appear in this article.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58473574

"Al-Qaeda is bound to the Taliban by a pledge of allegiance - or "bay'ah" - which was first offered in the 1990s by Osama Bin Laden to his Taliban counterpart Mullah Omar.

snip

Under the 2020 peace deal with the US, the Taliban agreed not to allow al-Qaeda or any other extremist group to operate in areas under their control. They reiterated this vow days after the takeover of Kabul on 15 August.

But they do not appear to have publicly rejected al-Qaeda either.

And al-Qaeda has certainly not softened its rhetoric towards the US."

much more text and photos at link

[irisblue]

1. A BBC correspondent I wholeheartedly recommend twitter following

is @bbclysedoucet.

That woman has covered that area if the world for many years, she knows her business.

from her twitter bio

BBC Presenter and Chief International Correspondent. Canada is my country, London is my city, but am at home in many places.
bbc.co.uk/lysedoucetJoined January 2010
3,769 Following
211.3K Followers
Followed by Dana Shell Smith, Walter Shaub, and 13 others you follow

[abqtommy]

2. Thanks. Since I don't do twitter your input is appreciated.

[irisblue]

3. I often hear her during the BBC World Service & BBC Newshour

Both are carried via NPR stations to the US.

I feel that the BBC has had the most extensive & neutral coverage of Afghanistan's recent history and current events.

I also admire the fact that she is still daily broadcasting and asking the Taliban and ministers hard questions to their faces.

[PortTack]

4. All 3 will do what's best politically and power wise for themselves