After two decades of war and thousands of lives lost in US-led efforts to enthrone democracy in Afghanistan, the Taliban is back in power. Behind the horrific scenes of thousands trying to flee Taliban rule, there are growing questions – and concerns – on what the return of the rebels could mean for Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) extremists, now well established in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region. A morale boost? Or something more?
After they were supposedly crushed by US-led forces in 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a stronger Taliban re-emerged and took back Afghanistan in just 10 days, vowing to restore an Islamic emirate in Afghanistan.