Kabul: CNN's Clarissa Ward 'charged' at by Taliban fighter

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Colonel Richard Kemp warned “government buildings” and “sports grounds” are among “major targets” which could be hit by terrorists. The Taliban surged across Afghanistan this month, seizing the capital Zabul on August 15.

British and American forces are desperately trying to evacuate western nationals, and their Afghan allies, from Kabul international airport.

The 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan took place in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington DC, which left 3,000 dead.

Al-Qaeda planned the attacks from Afghanistan, where they were given shelter by the Taliban.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror about the group, Colonel Kemp warned: “If they cannot get the US, the UK remains a large target.

“Freedom in Afghanistan, as we have seen with 9-11, will give them time and help to plan such an attack.”

The Taliban vowed to stop providing sanctuary to Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups, as part of a deal struck with the Trump administration.

However, Colonel Kemp argues they are unlikely to keep their word.

He said: “They have been close comrades for some time and have similar doctrines, religious beliefs.

“They have campaigned and fought together for two decades and their links may be even greater than before.

“This could very well mean a far greater threat from al-Qaeda Mark II, a bigger danger to British citizens.”

There have already been reports of a number of Islamist extremist groups operating with, and fighting alongside, the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Colonel Kemp also warned Britain faces a renewed threat from jihadis who are “inspired” by the Taliban victory, both in the UK and abroad.

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An estimated 700 British nationals travelled to Iraq and Syria between 2013 and 2017, to join the ISIS terrorist group.

The colonel commented: “We face the danger of an attack right now from jihadists already here who are inspired by what they have witnessed of the Taliban victory in Afghanistan.

“This is happening right now – radicalised people are seeing this story unfold and being inspired by it.

“They are celebrating the rise of al-Qaeda once again and the threat from these people is immediate.”

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Lord Jonathan Evans, former MI5 boss, said on Thursday international terror groups may once again use Afghanistan as a base to attack the west.

He warned: “If they get the opportunity to put down infrastructure to train and to operate then that will pose a threat to the west.

“There’s also the psychological effect of the inspiration that some people will draw from the failure of Western power in Afghanistan.

“In practical terms and in terms of ungoverned space, but also in psychological terms, it probably means an increase in threat over the coming months and years.”

Resistance to the Taliban has erupted within Afghanistan, with anti-Taliban forces congregating in the Panjshir Valley.

Some are former fighters from the Northern Alliance, an anti-Taliban coalition who fought the group for years prior to the 9/11 attacks.

After the atrocities, Northern Alliance troops worked with the US to topple the Taliban, and install a new government.
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