Both the al-Qaeda and the Taliban are feeding on the current dissatisfaction with the war in Afghanistan. It seems that people are more dismayed about what is going on with the war than the fact that Hamid Karzai rigged the elections in his favor.

The terror groups have developed ‘sophisticated foreign-recruiting networks’ resulting in an increasing number of Westerners joining al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Latest proof of this development is the discovery that ‘some 30 German citizens have traveled to Pakistan for training this year.’ ‘Belgian, French and Swedish nationals have been arrested en route or returning from Pakistani camps,’ as well. Terrorist training camps have been likewise available in South Asia. Terrorist trainees need not travel to Pakistan or Afghanistan for training.

Despite numerous and successful US strikes, Westerners continue to attend camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to US and European counterterrorism officials, more Western recruits that include Americans are traveling to Afghanistan and Pakistan ‘to attend paramilitary training camps. The flow of recruits has continued unabated, officials said, in spite of an intensified campaign over the past year by the CIA to eliminate al-Qaeda and Taliban commanders in drone missile attacks.’

For many years, Western countries have felt the ‘threat posed by homegrown radicals who have gone to Afghanistan and Pakistan to wage jihad.’ These self-motivated volunteers used to find their own way to South Asia. Today, ‘al-Qaeda and its affiliates have developed extensive recruiting networks with agents on the ground in Europe.’ The recruitment network is professionally-organized with agents providing ‘guidance, money, travel routes and even letters of recommendation so the recruits can join up more easily.’

In the US, there is also a thriving recruitment network that has seen a ‘small but growing participation of U.S. residents.’

Image

Via The Washington Post