Taliban Regime Completes Five Years as Experts Assess Governance, Security and Human Rights

An important conference was held in Islamabad to mark the completion of five years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, jointly organized by the Institute of Regional Studies and South Asia Times. The conference brought together policy circles, think tanks, Afghanistan experts, domestic and foreign observers, policymakers and diplomatic officials. Participants assessed the Taliban government’s performance over the past five years, with the conference declaration concluding that the regime had failed to establish an inclusive system of governance. The declaration said Taliban pledges regarding an inclusive government and fundamental human rights remained unfulfilled, while the Shura system had weakened and the Afghan population continued to bear the consequences of governance failures.

The declaration expressed particular concern over the situation of women in Afghanistan, stating that their access to education and employment had been severely restricted. It also alleged that the Taliban regime, despite presenting itself as a proponent of Shariah, had increasingly been influenced by extremist and takfiri ideologies. According to the declaration, ideological differences have intensified friction between factions based in Kabul and Kandahar. The participants also said the Taliban had failed to address concerns raised by the regional and international community and had struggled to overcome Afghanistan’s economic challenges, leaving people facing inflation and unemployment.

The conference further highlighted the presence of militant groups including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Daesh-Khorasan and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in Afghanistan, warning that Pakistan and other neighboring countries remain vulnerable to militant activity emanating from Afghan territory. The declaration said armed resistance groups had also intensified attacks following alleged abuses by the Taliban, expanding their operations beyond northern Afghanistan to other parts of the country during the current year. Taliban targets were reportedly attacked in Kabul, Kandahar, Kunduz and other areas. Participants ultimately agreed that the Taliban government had failed across multiple fronts including security, governance, diplomacy, human rights and the economy during its five years in power.