Afghanistan crisis: 'Jihadists are celebrating this as arguably their greatest victory since 9/11'

17 August 2021, 16:30 | Updated: 17 August 2021, 16:33

The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan is being celebrated by jihadists worldwide "as arguably their greatest victory since 9/11", Charles Lister has told LBC.
The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan is being celebrated by jihadists worldwide "as arguably their greatest victory since 9/11", Charles Lister has told LBC. Picture: LBC/Alamy

By Sam Sholli

The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan is being celebrated by jihadists worldwide "as arguably their greatest victory since 9/11", Charles Lister has told LBC.

Mr Lister, who is a senior fellow and the Director of the Syria and Countering Terrorism & Extremism programmes at the Middle East Institute think tank, made the remark while speaking to LBC's Shelagh Fogarty.

Speaking to Shelagh, Mr Lister said: "Well, I think it should go without saying that a Taliban takeover of all of Afghanistan is an enormous victory for the kinds of extremists and terrorists that we've been worrying about since 9/11 and indeed even before that."

Mr Listen then said that the Taliban shares a "religiously-binding, irreversible oath of allegiance with Al-Qaeda".

He told LBC: "That created the conditions that allowed Al-Qaeda to use Afghanistan to plot and to command and coordinate the 9/11 attacks.

Afghan evacuation flights set to arrive in the UK

"And none of that has really changed. Yes sure, politically the Taliban may have evolved somewhat over the last 20 years. But that relationship remains exactly as solid as it was 20 years ago.

"So for the Taliban to take over Afghanistan is super bad news.

"Clearly jihadists worldwide are celebrating this as arguably their greatest victory since 9/11, and I think that also should speak for itself."

READ MORE: Taliban soldiers seen riding bumper cars with guns as they take over amusement park

READ MORE: Foreign Secretary praises ‘heroism’ of British ambassador in Afghanistan

More Shelagh Fogarty News

See more More Shelagh Fogarty News

The Princess of Wales says she edited the photograph that was released to mark Mother's Day.

The insistence that we see Kate is tantamount to stalking, writes Shelagh Fogarty

Caller tells Shelagh his solution to illegal immigration.

LBC caller tells Shelagh Fogarty that the Channel islands are the answer to 'illegal immigration'

'Rishi Sunak chooses to do the self interested party politics': Shelagh Fogarty reflects on Tories' immigration policies

'Rishi Sunak chooses to do the self-interested party politics': Shelagh Fogarty reflects on Tories' migration policies

Shelagh Fogarty

Former Treasury official outlines 'three immediate priorities' likely to be reflected in Autumn Statement

Shelagh Fogarty

Suella Braverman's hardline crime bill seems like she's ‘interviewing' for career at ‘pathetic’ news channels, says caller

Shelagh and caller Sam

Anti-Semitic chants and actions 'delegitimize' pro-Palestinian cause asserts this Shelagh Fogarty caller

Shelagh and Ricardo Dos Santos

'It's sickening': Ricardo Dos Santos speaks to Shelagh Fogarty as two officers sacked over stop and search

Shelagh

Rishi Sunak has 'failed monumentally' to 'humanise' both sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict says Israel expert

Shelagh and Callum

Twitter is a 'particularly dangerous' place to get information now says the Centre for Countering Digital Hate

Shelagh and caller Simon

LBC caller details 'disgusting anti-Semitic' act he witnessed, as hate crimes rise in fall out of Israel-Hamas war

Sister of missing Israeli woman

'We hope she's hiding somewhere': Sister of missing Israeli festival goer fears she is being held hostage by Hamas

Distraught caller on Israel-Gaza conflict.

'This is a war against Hamas!': Distraught caller wants Israel and Palestine to take down the 'enemy' together

Shelagh and Alicia Kearns

Head of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee expresses concern over Israeli 'siege of Gaza'

Shelagh Fogarty caller on facial recognition.

This caller lacks 'trust' in the government's handling of the AI facial recognition debate

Shelagh condemns PM's comments on 'dignity' of the elderly.

'He painted a picture of a Britain that the Conservatives meant to build...': Shelagh Fogarty condemns PM's suggestion that elderly have 'dignity'

Shelagh Fogarty on Jenrick

'We're full aren't we?': Shelagh questions Robert Jenrick's motive behind encouraging Brits to increase birth rate