Washington, Dec 17 (NationPress) Senior officials from the US national security sector have informed lawmakers that terrorist organizations with origins in South Asia—notably those connected to Pakistan and Afghanistan—continue to represent a direct and evolving danger to the United States.

During a Congressional hearing addressing global threats, the Director of the National Counterterrorism Centre, Joseph Kent, briefed members of the House Homeland Security Committee that both ISIS and al-Qaida remain operational across South and Central Asia, with Afghanistan resurfacing as a favorable ground for extremist activities.

“ISIS and al-Qaida have taken refuge in regions like Afghanistan,” Kent remarked, highlighting the “transitional nature of those governments” and cautioning that the area continues to produce threats that extend well beyond its borders.

Kent further stated that US intelligence evaluations indicate that terror groups with historical connections to Pakistan and Afghanistan are increasingly utilizing online propaganda, encrypted communications, and ideological messaging to incite violence abroad, including within the United States.

“The emerging tactic we observe is a shift away from meticulously planned cellular attacks… towards an inspirational approach,” Kent explained, detailing how individuals radicalized by foreign groups act autonomously without direct operational guidance.

FBI National Security Branch Operations Director Michael Glasheen echoed this warning, asserting that international terrorist groups affiliated with ISIS and al-Qaida remain among the most urgent threats to US soil, even when attacks are executed by solitary actors.

“Some international terrorists are individuals who are located and radicalized to violence primarily within the United States,” Glasheen said, emphasizing that these persons are “motivated to carry out violence by foreign terrorist organizations such as ISIS and al-Qaida.”

Kent also associated threats originating from South Asia with failures in vetting individuals during the post-Afghanistan evacuation, stating that US agencies have identified individuals permitted entry under emergency protocols who later demonstrated connections to terrorist groups.

“These are individuals who would not normally be allowed into our country due to their associations with jihadi factions like ISIS and al-Qaida,” he said.

The alerts regarding South Asia came at the outset of a hearing that later devolved into intense political confrontations, including a heated exchange between Indian American Congressman Shri Thanedar and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Thanedar accused Noem of misleading Congress concerning immigration enforcement and compliance with court orders. “Secretary Noem, you misled me under oath during that session,” he asserted, challenging her on claims that US citizens had not been apprehended by immigration agents.

Noem refuted the accusation, stating, “The Department of Homeland Security and this administration comply with all federal court orders. We always have, and we always will.” She added that DHS had “never once detained—or deported—an American citizen,” explaining that individuals may be momentarily held until their identity is confirmed.

The debate intensified, with Thanedar declaring, “I am tired of your falsehoods. The American public demands transparency,” and questioning whether Noem would resign if not dismissed. Noem sharply replied: “I will interpret your call for my resignation as an affirmation of my work.”

The committee was established following the September 11, 2001, attacks, which resulted in nearly 3,000 fatalities. US officials continue to caution that instability in South Asia—especially within Afghanistan and Pakistan-linked terror networks—remains intricately linked to global and domestic security threats, despite the evolving nature of terrorism.