ISIS-K could launch another 9/11 style attack on the US within months, the Pentagon has warned.
A senior official said the terror group in Afghanistan could have the ability to strike within six months, and has the intention to do so.
Colin Kahl, under secretary of defense for policy, said on Tuesday: "We could see ISIS-K generate that capability in somewhere between six or 12 months.
"And for al-Qaeda, it would take a year or two to reconstitute that capability."
Discussing an immient threat from the terror groups, he added: "We’re actually fairly certain that they have the intention to do so."
"We need to be vigilant in disrupting that," Kahl added.
TALIBAN SEIZE POWER
His warning came after America ended its longest war in the country in August.
It is unclear the scale of the threat to the US but in August ISIS-K launched an assault which slaughtered more than 100 people including 13 American troops.
Despite that, Kahl insisted the threat of foreign terror attack on America “is at its lowest point” since 9/11.
The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August after the shambolic withdrawal of US led forces.
Kahl added: "It is our assessment that the Taliban and ISIS-K are mortal enemies.
"So the Taliban is highly motivated to go after ISIS-K."
But he warned: "Their ability to do so, I think, is to be determined."
TERROR THREAT
Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said in September: "It's a real possibility in the not too distant future – six, 12, 18, 24, 36 months, that kind of timeframe – for reconstitution of al Qaeda or ISIS.
"Terrorist organizations seek ungoverned spaces so that they can train and equip and thrive and, and so, there, there is clearly a possibility that that can happen here, going forward."
Lt. Gen. James Mingus said: "The goal would be to keep those time horizons where they are at now, if not even further."
The CIA has already said there are signs that terror group Al-Qaeda, once led by 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden, are returning to the country.
Speaking at an intelligence summit outside of Washington in September, CIA deputy director David Cohen said: "We are already beginning to see some of the indications of some potential movement of al-Qaeda to Afghanistan.
"We will obviously keep a very close eye on that."
20 YEARS ON
This year marked 20 years since 3,000 people were slaughtered after terrorists hijacked airlines, smashing them into the Twins Towers in New York and the Pentagon, Washington DC.
The American-led coalition left Afghanistan in 2011 after 4,825 troops died and 35,000 were injured.
An estimated 151,000 to 1,033,000 Iraqis died.
After a two-decade occupation, U.S. forces abruptly pulled out earlier this year.
That triggered the collapse of its Western-backed government and the Taliban's dramatic return to power — just days before the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
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