Al-Qaida and the Taliban at the Crossroads

In late February the United States and the Taliban reached an agreement over the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. The Taliban has pledged not to host al-Qaida or allow it to use Afghan soil "to threaten the security of the United States and its allies." The reaction in the world of jihadism has been mixed, ranging from celebration to condemnation. Is the deal a victory for al-Qaida or a severe blow? What is the state of al-Qaida in the world today?