In his article, Rustam Makhmudov analyses the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, looking at its causes, consequences and impact on international relations. He details the factors that contributed to the rapid fall of the Afghan government in 2021, including weak state institutions, corruption and ineffective policies of the US and its allies. The article highlights that despite years of efforts by the international community to stabilise Afghanistan, the Taliban have managed to regain power virtually unopposed.
The key point of the article is to examine the changes in the Taliban’s domestic and foreign policies since returning to power. The author notes that although the Taliban claim a desire to maintain international contacts and promise a more moderate course, their actual policies demonstrate a commitment to traditional radical ideas. In particular, there is an emphasis on restricting women’s rights, suppressing opposition and restoring strict religious norms.
An important aspect of the article is also an assessment of the world community’s reaction to the new regime in Afghanistan. The author points out the difference in the positions of different countries: some states seek cautious engagement with the Taliban, while others completely refuse to recognise their legitimacy. The article analyses how the Taliban’s policies affect regional security, including the threat of terrorism and the flow of refugees, as well as the impact of the situation on Central Asian countries.
Thus, the article presents an in-depth analysis of the contemporary Afghan reality, revealing the mechanisms of the Taliban’s rise to power, their internal politics and the international implications of this process. The author emphasises that further developments will largely depend on the ability of the international community to develop a unified approach to interacting with the Taliban regime.
* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.
