Taliban took over Afghanistan’s control after the withdrawal of US led forces in August 2021. The four years of Taliban regime can be viewed as miserably failed effort to convert their rebellious drive into an effective régime. Taliban have not learned any lessons from their previous experience of ruling the Afghanistan and committing the same mistakes. Contrary to the projection of an image of unity, the hardliner Taliban regime is embedded with internal power struggle, poor administration, tenacious economic malpractice, and human rights violation to the extent of public discontent. As most of the analyst are of the opinion that utmost empirical threat to Taliban regime would be its internal power rift as seen in the past after the Russian withdrawal from Afghanistan. These actions of Taliban regime itself forced the global community to deny diplomatic recognition to their regime.
On 29 Feb 202, Doha Agreement was signed between US and Taliban which Taliban failed to honor in many ways, most importantly back out from the commitments to form an inclusive govt and curb terrorist activities. It was agreed in Doha Agreement that establishment of new Afghan Islamic government would be determined through Intra-Afghan dialogue which never happened. There are 14 recognized ethnic groups and composition of major ethnic groups include Pashtun-42%, Tajik-27%, Uzbek-9%, Hazara-8%. Taliban govt lacks political pluralism and have excluded all non-Taliban factions and ethnic groups. In the cabinet of 49 members including PM, there are only 2 x Tajiks, 2 x Uzbeks, 2 x Baloch and 1 x Nuristani. Taliban government is made up of ex militant commanders, all Pashtuns wherein the key ministries are dominated by southern Pashtun clerics, sidelining Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazaras. Women have not been included in the government and their presence is systematically erased from public life.
Decision-making remains confined to the Taliban’s inner Shura having no public consultation or electoral mandate. The regime suppresses dissent voices and bans independent media and arrests critics instead of fostering dialogue. US Institute of Peace, 66th and 68th Sigar Report, Human Rights Watch 2022 and multiple UNAMA reports have time and again mentioned that Afghan Taliban failed to abide by the commitment they made during in Doha Agreement and were unable to form an all-inclusive government. Supreme Leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada has developed more centralized around his Noorzai tribal base. This have sidelined other key Taliban leaders like Mullah Baradar and Mullah Yaqoob who are leading to parallel centers of power thus resulting in clashing over policy and resources.
With few legitimate revenue streams remaining the Taliban regime has become increasingly dependent on income generated from mining operations. Many of which are controlled by powerful figures like Haji Bashir Noorzai. Rest is from the heavy taxation imposed on the general population. Even countries like Saudi Arabia and GCC states are reluctant to engage and support Taliban regime which is viewed as hardliner and extremist. Although the reduction in foreign aid has added further pressure on Afghanistan’s economy but the Taliban’s most serious challenges remain internal. Deep-rooted factionalism, the inability to provide basic public services, and the continuation of harsh social restrictions have collectively eroded the regime’s legitimacy and narrowed its political space for effective governance. Whereas, the Taliban rival’s groups like Islamic State are also exploiting the Taliban’s weaknesses to expand their influence in Afghanistan. Meanwhile the armed opposition groups, resistance movements at home and Afghan leadership in exiled are also finding abundant ground to reorganize as public dissatisfaction with the Taliban continues to grow.
The most glaring signs of the Taliban’s administrative shortcomings has been the prolonged closure of the Torkham border. This critical crossing point between Afghanistan and Pakistan has remained sealed and causing severe economic disruptions. As a key trade artery for Afghanistan being a landlock country, Torkham’s closure has disrupted the movement of goods and people. The dispute arose from tensions over Pakistan’s construction of border infrastructure in contested areas, which triggered repeated skirmishes between the two sides. The shutdown has left hundreds of trucks carrying essential commodities including food, fuel, and medical supplies are now stuck at the border. This is inflicting significant losses on traders and worsening the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. Of course, Taliban regime is willing to pay any price of providing all kind of support to TPP including training, providing shelter to top leadership for their terrorist activities inside Pakistan on the behest of India.
The result of Taliban polices is that it is facing growing internal turmoil with infighting between its own factions and other armed groups across Afghanistan. This instability has encouraged resistance movements particularly National Resistance Front (NRF) which has intensified its operations nationwide. On 10 November 2025, NRF attacked a Taliban checkpoint on Islam Qala Road near Herat which is close to the Afghanistan-Iran border. During the NRF attack two Taliban terrorists killed and their weapons were captured without any NRF casualties. The NRF stated that Afghans are fed up from Taliban rule and are striving to free the country from their illegitimate control. Warlord Ismail Khan, the “Lion of Herat,” has also joined the fight and preparing its men for further assaults on Taliban. Since 1 October 2025, resistance groups have reportedly killed at least 53 Taliban members across several provinces and posing an escalating challenge to Taliban authority. Analysts warn that in the absence of meaningful political reconciliation and structural reform the Taliban regime risks internal discord that could eventually lead to its disintegration or downfall.
⇒Zoha Aziz Writer & Research Analyst