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 established firm territorial control over Afghanistan and strengthened its security apparatus, yet its restrictions on women and girls, treatment 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 or geopolitical interests make cooperation attractive. Recent developments illustrate this contradiction. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has brought the Taliban leadership closer to international legal scrutiny. United Nations reporting has documented arbitrary detentions and ill-treatment by the morality police. Meanwhile, Russia is expanding security cooperation with Kabul, and European governments are negotiating with Taliban officials over deporting Afghan migrants. These developments are not isolated. Together, they raise ...
