Five Years After Taliban Return, Afghanistan Remains Politically Isolated
Five years after the Taliban administration returned to power, Afghanistan remains politically isolated at the international level, and no foreign country has congratulated it on the anniversary. Even Russia, which is considered one of the few countries with close ties to the administration, did not issue a message on the occasion.
With the exception of Russia, no country has recognised the Taliban administration. The United Nations has also not recognised it so far, and has not handed over Afghanistan’s seat in New York to its representatives.
This situation continues even as the international community has repeatedly said that respect for women’s rights, the formation of an inclusive administration, counterterrorism, and respect for the rights of ethnic and religious groups and minorities are among the main conditions for expanding engagement with the Taliban administration. Despite this, restrictions, especially on women and girls, have not eased in recent years and reports say they have intensified.
The Taliban administration returned to power in August 2021 after taking Kabul and the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Over the past five years, the administration has refused to share power with political opponents or create an inclusive structure, and has insisted on maintaining a monopoly on power.
In the latest case, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of the Taliban administration, rejected any talks with opponents in an interview with the BBC. He said that given what he described as “nationwide security,” there was no need for dialogue with opponents.
At the same time, signs of increased activity by armed opponents have been seen in several parts of Afghanistan, and some opposition groups have said they are continuing their fight against the Taliban administration. This situation shows that claims of complete stability in the country continue to face security and political challenges.
Despite this political isolation, the Taliban administration has established close relations with Iran, Russia and China in recent years. However, a number of countries in the region and beyond have stressed that diplomatic engagement with the Taliban administration does not mean recognising it.
Since the Taliban returned to power, Afghanistan has faced not only a political legitimacy crisis but also sweeping restrictions on civil rights and freedoms, an issue that has become one of the main focuses of international pressure on the administration.
