UN monitoring findings point to continued al-Qaeda activity 25 years after 9/11 – analysis

Twenty-five years after 9/11, UN monitoring indicates Al-Qaeda persists, having adapted by decentralizing and embedding itself in regional conflicts. Despite the killing of Osama bin Laden and the US "War on Terror," the organization remains active, particularly in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Recent UN assessments highlight Al-Qaeda's continued presence and support for groups like Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), with leaders of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) reportedly holding Afghan identity documents in Kabul. Policy analysts like Alex Mishra contend that "25 years after 9/11, Al-Qaeda has a larger territorial presence across three continents than at any point since [its] founding," while others, like former Pakistani diplomat Asif Durrani, suggest Al-Qaeda has "lost its teeth and appeal" compared to ISIS. The unresolved trial of alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, scheduled for 2028, also underscores the enduring complexities of post-9/11 counter-terrorism efforts.