Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Dec 17: Senior US national security officials have cautioned lawmakers that terrorist organisations with roots in South Asia, particularly those linked to Pakistan and Afghanistan, continue to present a persistent and evolving danger to the United States.

Testifying before the House Homeland Security Committee, National Counterterrorism Centre Director Joseph Kent said groups such as ISIS and al-Qaida remain active across South and Central Asia, with Afghanistan once again providing space for extremist elements to regroup and operate.

Kent warned that instability and transitional governance in parts of the region have allowed militant networks to find refuge and rebuild. He said intelligence assessments indicate these groups are increasingly shifting tactics, relying less on centrally planned attacks and more on online radicalisation, encrypted communication platforms, and ideological outreach to inspire violence abroad.

According to Kent, the emerging threat model focuses on motivating individuals to act independently, often without direct operational links to overseas handlers. These lone actors, he said, are frequently radicalised through digital propaganda originating from South Asia–based networks.

FBI National Security Branch Operations Director Michael Glasheen echoed those concerns, telling lawmakers that international terrorist organisations tied to ISIS and al-Qaida remain among the most serious threats to the US homeland. He noted that while many recent plots involve individuals acting alone, their ideological motivation can often be traced back to foreign extremist groups.

Glasheen added that some individuals inspired by overseas terrorist organisations are radicalised primarily within the United States, making detection and prevention more complex for law enforcement agencies.

Kent also raised concerns about vulnerabilities following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying vetting gaps during emergency evacuation efforts had allowed some individuals with suspected extremist ties to enter the country. He said several such cases were later flagged by intelligence agencies as posing potential security risks.

The hearing, initially focused on global terrorism threats, later turned politically charged. A heated exchange unfolded between Indian American Congressman Shri Thanedar and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over immigration enforcement and compliance with court orders.

Thanedar accused Noem of misleading Congress regarding the detention of US citizens by immigration authorities. Noem firmly rejected the allegation, insisting that the Department of Homeland Security follows all federal court orders and does not detain or deport American citizens, apart from brief holds to verify identity.

The confrontation escalated as Thanedar questioned Noem’s credibility and called for accountability, while Noem dismissed the criticism and defended her leadership.

The House Homeland Security Committee was established after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, and officials reiterated that despite changes in tactics, extremist networks rooted in South Asia remain closely linked to global terrorism risks. US security agencies continue to stress that instability in Afghanistan and the broader region has implications well beyond its borders, requiring sustained vigilance at home and abroad.