Leadership turmoil within the Taliban since the death of the militant group's founder has fueled closer links with foreign groups like al-Qaida, the new commander of international forces in Afghanistan said, complicating counterterrorism efforts.
In an interview with Reuters, Gen. John Nicholson pointed to what U.S. officials saw as a shift in the Taliban's relationship with groups that Washington considers terrorist organizations.
That could influence his assessment of plans to cut U.S. troop numbers next year, because if al-Qaida, which carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, can operate in Afghanistan with increasing freedom, it may pose a greater security threat inside the country and beyond.