The Taliban's Rule: A Complex Relationship With The Afghan People

The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021 has had a profound impact on the country and its people. While some Afghans feel safer under Taliban rule, the group's harsh interpretation of Islamic law and restrictions on women's rights, freedom of expression, and freedom of religion have led to widespread criticism and concern. The Taliban's policies have resulted in a deteriorating humanitarian crisis, economic upheaval, and human rights violations, with limited access to food, healthcare, and education. The international community has responded with sanctions and aid, but the future of Afghanistan remains uncertain.

The Taliban's harsh rule and restrictions on women and girls

The Taliban's harsh rules and restrictions on women and girls have been well-documented since their first rule of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. During this time, they were internationally notorious for their misogyny and violence against women.

In 1996, the Taliban mandated that women wear the burqa at all times in public. They were not allowed to work or be educated after the age of eight. Women seeking an education had to attend underground schools, where they and their teachers risked execution if caught. They were not allowed to be treated by male doctors unless accompanied by a male chaperone, which led to illnesses going untreated. They faced public flogging and execution for violations of the Taliban's laws.

After the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, they initially granted women permission to attend universities, but gender-segregated classrooms were required, and women had to follow "Islamic standards." However, by September 2021, they restricted access to education for teenage girls by only allowing boys to resume schooling. Additionally, they prohibited women in Afghanistan from working in most sectors beyond health and education.

The Taliban have enforced increasingly strict guidelines on permissible clothing for women and girls. In May 2022, the Ministry of Vice and Virtue issued a decree requiring women to cover themselves from head to toe. Male family members were made responsible for women’s adherence to the new rules and could be detained if women and girls in the family refused to comply.

The Taliban have also banned women from travelling more than 45 miles (70 km) without a close male relative. They have barred women from accessing gyms, public baths, parks, and amusement parks. They have also banned women from working in non-government organisations (NGOs) and ordered all such organisations to cease the employment of female employees.

The Taliban's harsh rules and restrictions on women and girls have had a devastating impact, depriving them of the opportunity to lead safe, free, and fulfilling lives. They are being denied their fundamental rights and freedoms, including the rights to education, work, freedom of movement, and freedom from fear and discrimination.

The Taliban's crackdown on freedom of expression

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the militant group has been accused of suppressing freedom of expression in the country. This suppression has been described as a "chilling crackdown on dissent" by Amnesty International.

In a briefing, Amnesty International outlined the Taliban's "sustained attack on human rights", including the persecution of minority groups, violent clampdown on peaceful protests, suppression of women's rights, and use of extrajudicial executions and disappearances to spread fear among Afghans.

The Taliban has also banned women from working outside the home, including jobs with the UN, and imposed restrictions on their appearance in public and travel. The group has forcibly closed beauty salons, impacting around 60,000 women-owned businesses. They have also banned girls from enrolling in education beyond primary school and requested that international NGOs transfer community-based education programs to local organizations, further restricting access to education for women and girls.

The Taliban has conducted raids on the offices of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), arbitrarily detained peaceful protesters, banned women from working in national and international NGOs, and shut down media outlets. The group has also targeted individuals expressing dissenting views on social media and those peacefully protesting their draconian policies, particularly regarding the right to education for women and girls.

The suppression of freedom of expression in Afghanistan under the Taliban has had a chilling effect on the exercise of this fundamental right, leading to self-censorship and creating an atmosphere of fear.

The Taliban's impact on Afghanistan's economy

The Taliban's harsh interpretation of Islamic law has resulted in the banning of most women from working, with the UN Development Program (UNDP) estimating that restricting women's employment could cost up to 5% of Afghanistan's GDP. The group has also cracked down on women-owned businesses, such as beauty salons, and imposed restrictions on girls' education.

The Taliban's takeover has wiped out gains in Afghans' standards of living that were made in the two decades following the US invasion. According to the UNDP, almost all Afghans were living in poverty by October 2022, with the economy shrinking by up to 30% since the Taliban's return to power. An estimated 700,000 jobs have been lost, and more than 90% of the population has faced food insecurity.

The healthcare system in Afghanistan remains dependent on international aid and is fragile due to a lack of infrastructure and resources. The country is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis, with millions at risk of malnutrition and disease.

The Taliban's policies have also led to international isolation and financial sanctions, further exacerbating the economic crisis. The freezing of Afghanistan's foreign assets and the termination of development aid have crippled the economy, with the revocation of the country's central bank's credentials halting all basic banking transactions.

The World Bank has noted that the Afghan economy faces the threat of stagnation, with declining external financing avenues and structural deficiencies in the private sector expected to impede any economic progress. Unemployment is expected to increase, and food insecurity is projected to worsen.

Overall, the Taliban's impact on Afghanistan's economy has been devastating, with the country facing a potential collapse and a worsening humanitarian crisis.

The Taliban's relationship with Pakistan

Historically, Pakistan has played a significant role in supporting the Taliban, particularly during the group's insurgency against the US-backed government in Afghanistan. Pakistani support has included soliciting funding, providing diplomatic backing, arranging training for fighters, recruiting manpower, planning and directing offensives, and supplying ammunition and fuel. Pakistan's intelligence services, particularly the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI), have also contributed to the Taliban's military effectiveness. Additionally, private actors in Pakistan, including trucking cartels and arms procurement companies, have provided financial and logistical support to the Taliban.

However, the relationship between the Taliban and Pakistan has evolved since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. While Pakistan was a major benefactor during the Taliban's insurgency, the group's rise to power has shifted the dynamics. The Taliban, now in control of Afghanistan, have less incentive to maintain close ties with Pakistan, especially as they seek alternative sources of financing for reconstruction and development. Additionally, the Taliban's success has inspired Islamist and jihadist forces in Pakistan, challenging the Pakistani state's authority and stirring up religious fervor among its population.

One of the main sources of tension between the Taliban and Pakistan is the disputed border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, known as the Durand Line. Afghanistan's refusal to accept the Durand Line as the international border has led to recurring clashes between the two countries' security forces. The issue of border unrest, particularly in Pakistan's Pashtun belt, has become a significant point of contention.

Furthermore, the relationship between the Taliban and Pakistan has been complicated by the presence of the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP is an anti-Pakistan insurgent group that seeks to establish a Taliban-style, Sharia-compliant state in Pakistan and has carried out numerous attacks resulting in the deaths of thousands of Pakistanis. Despite Pakistan's expectations that the Taliban would restrain the TTP, the group has instead provided de-facto political asylum and allowed the TTP to step up cross-border attacks. This has led to a major crisis in the relationship, with Pakistan carrying out airstrikes inside Afghanistan targeting the TTP and the Taliban threatening retaliation.

Overall, the Taliban's relationship with Pakistan is complex and multifaceted, shaped by historical support, ideological connections, strategic interests, and evolving dynamics following the Taliban's rise to power in Afghanistan.

The Taliban's stance on foreign aid

The Need for Foreign Aid

The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021 led to a floundering economy, soaring malnutrition, and significant job losses. The country's economic situation was further exacerbated by the pause in aid from various countries and international organizations, which had previously been a lifeline for the economy and the public health sector. Recognizing the dire situation, the Taliban has campaigned for international recognition and sought to access frozen Afghan assets held abroad. They understand the importance of foreign aid in preventing economic collapse and ensuring their political survival.

Infiltration and Diversion of Aid

However, the Taliban has been criticized for its handling of foreign aid. According to a report prepared for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Taliban has "infiltrated" and diverted international aid for their own benefit. They view foreign charity as a revenue stream and have systematically diverted aid through Taliban-controlled channels. This has raised concerns among Western governments, including the Biden administration, about the potential misuse of aid funds and the Taliban's lack of accountability.

Restrictions on Aid Distribution

The Taliban has imposed restrictions on the distribution of aid within Afghanistan, particularly targeting women and girls. They have banned women from working in most sectors, including with the UN, and have restricted their access to education and freedom of movement. These actions have severely impacted the delivery of humanitarian assistance and have led to pauses in vital programming by aid organizations. The Taliban's edicts have also created operational challenges for aid organizations, with restrictions on staff movements and interference in aid delivery by local Taliban authorities.

Conditionality and Negotiations

Foreign aid donors have attempted to use aid as a lever to push the Taliban towards moderation and upholding human rights. However, the Taliban has been reluctant to make core political concessions and has often engaged in window dressing to satisfy donors' requirements. They have also courted aid from countries with less stringent demands for political moderation, such as Qatar, Turkey, China, Pakistan, and Russia.

Impact on the Ground

The restrictions imposed by the Taliban on aid distribution have had far-reaching consequences for Afghans, particularly women and girls. The lack of access to education, services, and humanitarian aid has created a brain drain, as educated women leave the country in search of better opportunities. Additionally, the diversion of aid has raised concerns about whether the aid is reaching those who need it the most, with no U.S. embassy or media presence in Afghanistan to monitor the programs.

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