The Enduring Taliban Rule In Afghanistan: A Complex Reality

Afghanistan is still under the rule of the Taliban, who seized power in August 2021 as US and NATO forces withdrew from the country following two decades of war. The Taliban has settled in as rulers of Afghanistan, with no significant opposition that could topple them. They have avoided internal divisions and kept a struggling economy afloat, in part by holding investment talks with capital-rich regional countries.

The Taliban has imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, despite pledges to respect the rights of women and religious and ethnic minority communities. They have suppressed free speech and organised political activity, and have violently cracked down on demonstrations. They have also reestablished their Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which enforces prohibitions on behaviour deemed un-Islamic.

Under Taliban rule, Afghanistan’s economy has floundered. Malnutrition has soared, and hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost. Most women have been banned from working, barred from virtually every aspect of public life, and prohibited from attending secondary school and university.

The Taliban's impact on women's rights

Since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the group has imposed a series of restrictions limiting women's rights and freedoms. Women and girls are now barred from virtually every aspect of public life.

Education

Under the Taliban's rule, girls are banned from attending secondary school, and women are prohibited from attending university. This has affected over 100,000 girls and 148,000 male students. In some provinces, girls are still allowed to attend secondary school, but attendance has reportedly fallen significantly.

Employment

The Taliban has banned women from working in most sectors outside of health and education. In December 2022, the group also prohibited women from working at local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs). It is estimated that 25% of government employees were female before the Taliban's takeover.

Healthcare

The Taliban has banned women from accessing healthcare delivered by men, with women forbidden from working in most sectors. This has left healthcare virtually inaccessible for women.

Freedom of Movement

Women are barred from travelling more than 45 miles without a close male relative. They are also banned from entering gyms, parks, and amusement parks.

Clothing

Women are ordered to wear face coverings in public and full-body coverings (burqas) when outside.

Public Presence

The Taliban has shut down beauty salons and prohibited women's entry into public baths. Women are also banned from appearing on TV and taking part in sports or entering sports clubs.

Domestic Violence

Men are allowed to commit domestic violence and even kill their female family members with impunity. Women who suffer rape and other forms of violence can end up being accused of 'moral crimes' and risk being stoned to death as punishment.

Other Restrictions

• Women are not allowed to laugh loudly, as it is considered improper for a stranger to hear a woman's voice.
• Women are forbidden to wash clothes at river banks.
• Women are banned from riding bicycles or motorcycles, even with male chaperones.
• Women are forbidden to ride in a taxi without a male chaperone.
• Women are not allowed to show their skin in public.
• Women are not allowed to leave the house without a male chaperone.
• Women are banned from studying and accessing education.
• Women are banned from being involved in politics or speaking publicly.
• Women are banned from appearing on radio, television, or at public gatherings.
• Women are banned from taking part in elections or running for office.
• Women are banned from working in high-ranking government posts.

The Taliban's relationship with foreign governments

However, some countries have engaged in informal diplomatic contact with the Taliban, and a handful of states, including China and Russia, have accredited Taliban-selected diplomats.

The Taliban has maintained contacts with Iran since taking over Kabul. In February 2023, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi called for "revival [and] life, security and lasting peace" in Afghanistan. Despite this, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh strongly condemned the Taliban's assault on the Panjshir Valley.

The Taliban has also had a historically strong relationship with Pakistan. The Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been accused of heavily supporting the Taliban since 1994. However, since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, Afghanistan and Pakistan have repeatedly broken out into armed conflict. Pakistan accuses the Taliban of harbouring Pakistani Taliban rebels, while the Taliban rejects all allegations.

The Taliban has also been accused of receiving support from China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. In April 2022, China became the first non-Muslim majority country to accept diplomatic credentials from the Taliban.

The Taliban's relationship with the West has been particularly strained. The Taliban has been designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, and the group has warned Turkey of "severe consequences" if its military remains in Afghanistan.

The Taliban's relationship with India has also been tense. India did not recognise the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and has consistently withheld recognition since the Taliban's rise to power.

The Taliban's relationship with Qatar has been more positive. In 2013, with U.S. and Afghan government approval, Qatar allowed the Taliban to set up a diplomatic office in the country to facilitate peace negotiations.

Overall, the Taliban's relationship with foreign governments has been fraught with tension and accusations of support for terrorist organisations. The Taliban regime has not been recognised by any country, but some countries have given de facto recognition, making them functionally recognised by some countries.

The Taliban's economic policies

Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the country has faced a dire economic situation, with the economy in freefall and most Afghans unable to afford basic necessities. The Taliban government has implemented several policies to address the economic crisis, but the country remains in a precarious situation.

One of the main sources of revenue for the Taliban regime has been taxation. Building on their history of taxation during the insurgency, the Taliban has increased taxes, including retrospective taxes on assets and properties. This has placed a heavy burden on citizens, with many becoming unemployed and struggling to make ends meet. The Taliban regime generated around $2.2 billion in revenue between March 2022 and March 2023, according to the World Bank.

The Taliban has also tried to make the Afghan economy more self-sustaining, focusing on domestic revenue and customs to finance its projects. They are investing in infrastructure projects, such as the construction of dams, canals, and tunnels, as well as steel mills to support these projects. However, the economic conditions for Afghans continue to deteriorate, with a surge in humanitarian needs and a lack of access to basic necessities.

Another area of focus for the Taliban is the expansion of oil extraction and the exploitation of the country's vast mineral resources, including lithium ore. They have struck mining contracts worth billions in investment and aim to increase output from oil fields. However, it will take years before mining can begin on a large scale, and the Taliban faces challenges in exporting these resources due to sanctions and a lack of infrastructure.

The Taliban has also implemented policies to address food shortages, such as reducing taxes on food imports and discouraging opium production, forcing farmers to grow food crops instead. They have also paid civil servants with wheat purchased from neighbouring countries.

However, the Taliban's restrictions on women's education and participation in the workforce have been detrimental to the economy. These policies have limited the potential for economic growth and recovery, as they restrict the participation of over half of the population in the economy.

The future economic outlook for Afghanistan remains uncertain, with the threat of stagnation looming. The absence of GDP growth and declining external financing avenues paint a bleak picture. Structural deficiencies in the private sector and waning international support are expected to hinder any significant economic progress. As a result, poverty and unemployment are expected to increase, with a decrease in job opportunities and a rise in food insecurity.

The Taliban's relationship with the media

After being ousted from power following the 2001 U.S. intervention, the Taliban's media strategy shifted dramatically. During their two-decade insurgency, they developed a complex and decentralized media strategy that contributed to their rapid military advance and eventual takeover of Afghanistan by August 2021. They took advantage of social media platforms and encrypted messaging applications to spread their messages, connect with supporters, and increase operational security. The Taliban strategically positioned themselves as a nationalist group fighting against foreign invaders, highlighting their military victories and competence to boost their credibility. They also leveraged local culture and religious views to resonate with the local population and gain critical support from influential figures.

In the present day, since their return to power in 2021, the Taliban has attempted to control the flow of information into and out of Afghanistan. While they initially launched a public relations campaign to craft a more moderate image, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The national media faces heavy restrictions, and international media has limited presence in the country. Female television presenters are required to cover their faces, and entertainment programs, especially those featuring women, have been stopped. Journalists who criticize the Taliban's government face persecution, imprisonment, and torture.

The Taliban has also sought to control social media by flooding platforms with pro-Taliban accounts and messages that present the group in a favourable light. They have leveraged their online presence to counter criticism and shape the narrative, both domestically and internationally. However, their efforts to control the information landscape have been met with resistance, with activists and supporters using social media as a venue for dissent and calls for banning Taliban-related content.

The Taliban's relationship with religion

The Taliban is a Sunni Islamist movement that follows a strict interpretation of Sharia law. The Taliban's ideology is a blend of Deobandi traditionalism and Wahhabism, with a conservative Pashtun social code (Pashtunwali).

The Taliban's religious/political philosophy is heavily influenced by the works of Grand Mufti Rashid Ahmed Ludhianvi, and its political and religious principles are modelled on those of Abul A'la Maududi and the Jamaat-e-Islami movement.

The Taliban's ideology is not static. It has evolved since its founding in the early 1990s, and its leadership has shown a willingness to adapt its policies to changing circumstances. For example, the Taliban initially opposed the drug trade but later came to rely on it as a major source of revenue.

The Taliban's interpretation of Sharia law has resulted in the brutal treatment of many Afghans, particularly women and religious and ethnic minorities. Women have been banned from working and attending school, and the Taliban has committed cultural genocide by destroying historical and cultural texts, artifacts, and sculptures.

The Taliban's harsh enforcement of its interpretation of Islamic law has led to widespread international condemnation and sanctions. However, the Taliban justifies its actions as necessary to establish a "truly Islamic state" and claims that its rule has brought peace and security to Afghanistan.

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