How did Al-Qaeda get started during the cold war?

Al-Qaeda was founded in 1988 by Osama bin Laden and others, emerging from the context of the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989), during which the U.S. and its allies supported Afghan mujahideen fighters against Soviet forces. The conflict drew various Islamist fighters from around the world, leading to the formation of networks that would later contribute to Al-Qaeda. The group initially aimed at supporting jihadist causes and establishing a pan-Islamic state. The Cold War's geopolitical dynamics, including U.S. involvement and the subsequent power vacuums, helped facilitate its rise.