Taliban Under Scrutiny As US Kills Al-Qaida Leader in Kabul
SnopesMAR 25 2022
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
This assassination is a major blow to the Pakistani Taliban, who are a stakeholder in the region. However, it also has the potential to derail the fragile dialogue process and could lead to intensified militant violence in Pakistan. This is a concerning development that could jeopardize the hard-fought diplomatic gains during these early peace talks.
Pro-establishment narrative
This was a victory against radical jihadism and terrorist activities. These individuals have been on the US radar for several years. The Pakistani Taliban consists of various members of al-Qaeda's core leadership and the US is right to be worried that their aims could be expanded beyond the region.