The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report compiled by the monitoring team of the 1988 UNSC Taliban sanctions committee mentions that relations between Al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders have recently become closer, reports Hasht-e-Subh on May 28. According to the report, Al-Qaeda has gained more freedom with the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has also renewed his allegiance to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.