Top US general says terror groups could reconstitute in Afghanistan sooner than expected
By Natasha Bertrand, Jennifer Hansler and Melanie Zanona, CNN
Updated 2:50 PM ET, Sun August 15, 2021
(CNN)Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said Sunday in a briefing for Senators that terrorist groups like al Qaeda could reconstitute in Afghanistan sooner than the two years defense officials had previously estimated to Congress because of the recent, rapid Taliban takeover of the country, according to a Senate aide briefed on the comments.
The situation could result in a greater counterterrorism threat, he acknowledged.
Senators were also told there are as many as 60,000 people who could potentially qualify as Special Immigrant Visa holders or applicants, P1 and P2 visa holders, or others like human rights defenders and could need evacuation, two Senate aides said. The White House did not return a request for comment on those numbers.
more
https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/15/politics/mark-milley-afghanistan-terror-groups/index.html