The Taliban’s International Paradox: Condemned at Home, Courted Abroad
Five years after returning to power, the Taliban faces a contradiction at the heart of its rule. It has consolidated its control over Afghanistan and strengthened its security apparatus, yet its restrictions on women and girls, repression of dissent, and lack of political accountability continue to undermine its claims to legitimate government. At the same time, foreign governments increasingly engage with the movement when security, migration and geopolitical interests make cooperation attractive. ( Women in burqas walk through a public street in Afghanistan. Under Taliban rule, women face severe restrictions on their clothing, freedom of movement and participation in public life. Sanaullah Seiam for AFP.) Recent developments illustrate this contradiction. The International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants against senior Taliban officials have intensified legal scrutiny of the leadership. United Nations reporting continues to document arbitrary detentions and ill-treatment by the Tali...
