TalibanEdit

The Taliban is an Islamist political and military movement that has shaped Afghanistan’s modern history in consequential ways. Rising from refugee and madrasa networks in the early 1990s among Pashtun communities in southern and eastern Afghanistan and across the border in Pakistan, the group sought to restore order according to its stringent interpretation of Sharia. They established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and controlled most of the country from 1996 until 2001, when a coalition led by the United States toppled their government in response to harboring al-Qaeda. The Taliban then persisted as an insurgent force for years, waging a long campaign against Western-backed Afghan governments. In August 2021, after the withdrawal of international forces, the Taliban returned to power and have governed Afghanistan since, though their legitimacy is not widely recognized by major states and they face significant humanitarian, economic, and security challenges.

Origins and ideology

  • The movement’s rise was rooted in the chaos of Afghanistan’s civil conflict and the prevailing belief among many Afghans that a strict, centralized religious order could restore security and order after years of war. The Taliban drew on a blend of traditional Pashtun codes, Deobandi religious education, and the political currents of Sunni Islam that emphasize moral order and social discipline. Pashtuns and Deobandi networks played influential roles in their formation, while the broader Afghan and regional context shaped their ambitions. The movement’s self-proclaimed authority rests on the title of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, a claim to sovereignty grounded in their interpretation of Sharia.

  • Ideologically, the Taliban have pursued a comprehensive, if austere, social order aimed at enforcing religious norms in public life. They emphasize obedience to religious authority, compulsory dress codes, gender segregation in many public spaces, and limitations on public entertainment and media that they judge incompatible with their moral code. Their approach has been described by critics as a harsh form of religious governance, even as supporters argue it reflects a commitment to tradition and social stability.

Rule in the 1990s and the 2001 invasion

  • After taking control of Kabul in 1996, the Taliban instituted a centralized, religiously oriented administration. The government fused political authority with a religious police framework and a series of moral-legal rules that extended into education, work, and personal conduct. The period was marked by a strong emphasis on public order but also by restrictions that curtailed individual freedoms, especially for women and girls, and limited cultural and political pluralism. The regime’s legitimacy came from a combination of coercive enforcement, local power dynamics, and the perception among some Afghans that a strict but stable order beat ongoing factional conflict. The international response was shaped by concerns over human rights and security, particularly after the group’s harboring of transnational terrorist networks became evident.

  • The regime’s downfall began after the September 11, 2001 attacks and the subsequent US-led intervention that toppled the Taliban government. The resulting period of counterinsurgency and stabilization efforts aimed to rebuild Afghan political institutions, security forces, and civil society, while pressing for reforms in education, women’s rights, and the rule of law. The Taliban remained a potent insurgent force, waging battles against the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and its Western patrons, while maintaining cross-border safe havens and connections to other militant groups. The conflict in this era featured a complex interplay of local grievances, external security concerns, and regional politics, including the roles of Pakistan, Qatar, and other neighbors in facilitating dialogue and, at times, containment.

Taliban and insurgency after 2001

  • Following their removal from government, the Taliban operated as an insurgent movement from bases in neighboring countries and in parts of Afghanistan with limited state control. They conducted asymmetric warfare, attacked Afghan security forces and international troops, and sought to regain influence across the country through a combination of military pressure, political outreach, and propaganda. Their leadership structure, including the leadership council commonly referred to as the Quetta Shura, coordinated operations and governance aims while negotiating with external powers at various times. The group’s persistence demonstrated the difficulty of reconstructing a durable, inclusive Afghan political order in the face of armed resistance and regional tension.

Return to power in 2021 and governance

  • In 2021, the withdrawal of most international forces left Afghanistan in a precarious security and economic position. The Taliban rapidly took control of major cities and Kabul, and quickly moved to establish a new administration under the banner of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. In the ensuing period, the regime has sought to restore basic order and governance mechanisms, including ministries that resemble civilian government departments. However, the new authorities have faced intense scrutiny over their treatment of women and girls, minority groups, freedom of expression, and political participation, alongside ongoing economic and humanitarian crises. The handling of education, work opportunities for women, and public life has been a focal point of international concern and internal debate.

International response and geopolitics

  • The international community has largely refrained from broad recognition of the Taliban’s government, prioritizing instead a pragmatic approach to humanitarian relief and stability, conditioned on assurances about counterterrorism, civilian protections, and basic rights. Neighboring states and regional powers have engaged selectively to address security, refugee flows, and economic concerns, while major powers have pursued a mix of diplomacy, aid, and sanctions in pursuit of stabilizing Afghanistan without endorsing the regime’s governing framework. International organizations, including the United Nations and the World Bank family, have continued to provide aid to the Afghan population, balancing humanitarian imperatives with political caution. The Doha process and subsequent diplomacy illustrated ongoing attempts to manage the country’s security and political trajectory without full diplomatic recognition.

Controversies and debates

  • A central controversy concerns whether engagement with the Taliban is a prudent means to prevent chaos and terrorism or a concession that legitimizes an undemocratic and repressive regime. Supporters of a more cautious, security-first approach argue that stabilizing Afghanistan and preventing a security vacuum reduces regional spillover and protects Western and regional interests. Critics contend that legitimizing or enabling the Taliban undermines long-standing commitments to universal rights and reinforces a governance model that restricts freedom, especially for women and religious minorities. The debate extends to humanitarian policy: how to deliver aid and development without propping up a regime that imposes severe social controls.

  • The Taliban’s governance has been scrutinized for ethnic and social inclusivity, accountability, and transparency. While the group has asserted commitments to public order and economic stabilization, observers note ongoing constraints on education, mobility, and political participation for many Afghan citizens, particularly women. The relationship between security, development, and rights remains a focal point of international dialogue, with various actors insisting that any lasting stabilization must be accompanied by credible protections for civilians and steps toward broader political inclusion.

  • The broader regional context shapes these debates. Afghanistan sits at a crossroads of Central Asia and the broader South Asia political economy, with neighboring countries weighing security, migration, and economic considerations. The ongoing challenge is to balance prudent counterterrorism with the practical needs of Afghan civilians who depend on aid, trade, and basic services.

Human rights and civilian impact

  • The Taliban’s governance has a profound impact on daily life in Afghanistan. Policies and enforcement practices have affected education for girls, women’s access to work, movement in public spaces, and cultural expression. International observers have documented restrictions on civil liberties that affect a substantial portion of the population, with humanitarian groups warning of severe consequences for civilians amid food insecurity and economic collapse. The situation remains dynamic, with civilian protection and humanitarian access receiving ongoing attention from the international community and Afghan civil society actors.

  • Ethnic and regional diversity within Afghanistan means that governance and policy outcomes are experienced differently across communities. Minority groups and those who oppose the regime’s religious and cultural norms often face additional vulnerability in a political environment that emphasizes conformity to a centralized religious order.

See also