Al-Qaeda Enjoys A Revival In Afghanistan – And Its New Leader Is Heard Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. While Al-Qaeda is not what it once was, it remains a strong terrorist organization with followers across the world, including those who seek to enter the U.S. and those already here plotting their next attack. This past year, Al-Qaeda's presence in Afghanistan has grown – growth that began following the U.S. withdrawal – and it is once again closely tied to the Taliban.