Afghanistan’s Security Dilemma Under The Taliban Rule – OpEd
By Saima Afzal
On 30th January 2025, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) released its quarterly report that has highlighted the security, governance, international relations, the humanitarian crisis, education, and Afghanistan’s economy under the Interim Afghan Government(IAG).
The 66th report of SIGAR pointed out that Taliban government considers the ISIS an existential threat to Afghanistan and tolerates the Al-Qaeda and Tehrik –e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Therefore, the Taliban’s actions represent their dual strategy; while they take action against ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), and on the other hand, they continue to support and accommodate the terrorists’ groups like Al-Qaeda and TTP that undermine any genuine efforts to eradicate the menace of terrorism and extremism from Afghan territory. The selective strategy to counterterrorism indicates the lack of Taliban regime’s commitment to addressing the root cause of extremism and violence in Afghanistan. A UN sanctions monitoring team reported in July 2024 that Afghanistan continues to be perceived as permissive or friendly territory by terrorist groups, which also aspire to project threats globally. In July 2024 the UN sanctions monitoring team also reported that Afghanistan continues to be perceived as friendly territory by the terrorist organizations that are not only regional but also a global threat.
However, it is evident that Taliban government in Afghanistan provides a conducive environment and save haven to the terrorist’s groups in their country that are posing threat to regional and neighbouring states like Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and Russia. The US decision to hold almost 4 billion US dollars’ financial help to Afghanistan is a rational move, because there are genuine concerns that such action may halt the support of terrorists groups within the Afghanistan soil. The SIGAR report also favors the US decision because any financial assistance may be misused due to Taliban government’s lack of transparency and accountability and further deteriorate the security situation of the country. Taliban’s refusal to dismantle the terrorist’s sanctuaries indicates the failure of Afghan governance to address the security concerns. Instead of promoting the peace and stability, Taliban regime have allowed terrorists to openly operate from their soil. However, the international stakeholders believe that Taliban cannot be trusted.
Moreover, SIGAR report highlighted the ban on female education in medical institutions. A UN Women report warns that maternal mortality rates in Afghanistan could increase by 50% by 2026 due to this restriction. The implementation of Taliban’s strict laws has confined the females to their homes; they are denied to the all basic rights. Their voices are stifles and they have been put behind the bars. Since the Taliban took the control of the Kabul in 2021, millions of Afghan women and girls have lived under a system of gender apartheid that steadily erased them from public life in Afghanistan. In the globalized world, the women are getting equal rights to men but the Afghan women are still fighting to get their basic rights. It is a time when Afghan government need to realize that for the prosperity and development of the state; women should be provided education, all basic facilities and opportunities to grow.
Furthermore, various international and UN reports stress that Tehrik-e- Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has moved its operational bases in Afghanistan and involved in cross border terror attacks especially in Baluchistan and Northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bordering province of Afghanistan. Taliban government assured Pakistan administration that their soil would not be used for any terrorist’s activities but TTP continue its operation against the state with the support of Afghan Taliban. Pakistan hosts almost four million Afghan refugees’ despite of its economic challenges but it is sad to say that few of them are also involved in terrorist activities. The conduct of Afghan refugees has compelled Pakistan government to take stern action against them. Pakistan government has adopted repatriation policy of Afghans nation and illegal immigrant from their territory that is aligned with international norms. Pakistan has enforced a legal policy to safeguards its national security and sovereignty.
Pakistan has taken severe security measures due to various terrorist’s incidents like 225 Afghans national were arrested for street crimes in Karachi on Jan 30, 2025, 35 million Pakistani rupees loot recovered from Afghan robbers on Jan 25, 2025. There were recorded surge in 30% crime in Peshawar in Nov 2024); and 60% of street crime suspects are Afghan nationals. In Nov 2024, almost 352 Afghan criminals arrested in Peshawar’s crackdown. In Jan 2025, a militant Mohammad Khan Ahmed Khel killed in a Zhob clash was also an Afghan national. Therefore, it is Pakistan’s right to take action against the criminals. Pakistan has no obligation to accommodate refugees being non-signatory to 1951 UN Refugees Convention. Pakistan is hosting Afghan refugees just as a goodwill gesture not due to international obligations.
In short, Afghanistan’s security environment remains volatile under the Taliban rule. However, Taliban administration defend their policies that they are aligned with Islamic law and Shariah; dismissing international criticism as an interference in the country’s internal affairs. The severe restrictions on Afghan women and the Taliban’s alliance with terrorist groups, have deterred the international community from granting legitimacy to the de facto Afghan government. If the interim Afghan Government wants to establish and expand relations with the international community, they must adhere to all global principles, regulations, and charters.
