Five Years On: Assessing Governance, Stability and Foreign Relations under Taliban Rule

This analysis by Syed Abrar Hussain, Vice-Chairman IPS and the former ambassador of Pakistan to Afghanistan, assesses five years of Taliban rule, focusing on governance, economic survival, social restrictions, regional geopolitics, and relations with neighboring countries. The respective policy insight compares the incumbent Taliban administration with its previous rule, highlighting its greater administrative capacity, revenue generation, and regional diplomatic engagement, while noting the persistence of ideological rigidity, restrictions on women, and the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan. Importantly, it examines the deterioration of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, particularly over the TTP, cross-border violence, and border and trade disputes. The insight argues for a pragmatic reset based on state-to-state engagement, counter-terrorism cooperation, and stronger economic and regional connectivity.