Since the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan on 24 December 1979, the miseries of the Afghan people have never come to an end. The Soviet Union withdrew its troops after 10 years of prolonged occupation without achieving its goals of establishing peace, ending fighting, and creating an environment for holding free and fair elections. Though Russia left Afghanistan in early 1989 after establishing a puppet regime under Najibullah, local warlords continued to fight for power and resources. The dilemma for the innocent Afghan people is that even in the 21st century, their suffering continues as they are ruled by the Taliban at gunpoint. The interim Taliban regime has not gained recognition from the world community, except from Russia, due to their continued support for terrorist groups, repressive policies, and violations of human rights. In short, whether it is the Mujahedin or the Taliban, both claim to be the custodians of Islam but have no real connection to the religion as they exploit it to capture resources and gain power in Afghanistan. Those who exploit religion for violence betray its spirit.
An overview of the life of an average person in Afghanistan under the four years of the Taliban regime reveals increased unemployment, with 9 out of 10 families skipping meals; about 2.2 million girls barred from school beyond primary education; women driven out of all walks of life; inadequate basic health facilities; and no freedom of speech. Moreover, the influx of more than 2.3 million Afghan refugees repatriated from Iran and Pakistan has compounded the existing problems of healthcare, food shortages, and shelter. Dissenting voices are silenced or met with bullets to the head. Women cannot move out without a mahram to support their family’s livelihood, being the sole earning members. This is happening in a state that claims to be the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The well-being of the Afghan people has never been the Taliban’s priority; rather, they always bargain human life for money.
The UN Monitoring Report on Afghanistan (13 February 2025) specified that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Jamaat Ansarullah (JA), a Tajik extremist group, have established training camps in Afghanistan with the support of the Taliban in Khost, Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktika, and Takhar provinces. Al-Qaeda and its associated terrorist outfits control 14 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, a number that is growing. The UN Monitoring Group’s information clearly contradicts the Taliban’s repetitive claims of not harbouring terrorist groups. JA is dedicated to ousting the Tajik government, while TTP conducts attacks to destabilise Pakistan. At the same time, al-Qaeda maintains its position as an international terrorist group that inspires allied terrorist groups to participate in global jihad. This is the outcome of the Taliban’s policies that have led the world to view Afghanistan as a united state of terrorism. The resurgence of ISIS in Afghanistan is seen by some analysts as not an extraordinary phenomenon, as it is possible in the context of Taliban ideology.
An overview of the life of an average person in Afghanistan under the four years of the Taliban regime reveals increased unemployment, with 9 out of 10 families skipping meals; about 2.2 million girls barred from school beyond primary education; women driven out of all walks of life; inadequate basic health facilities; and no freedom of speech.
According to the latest UN estimates, there are around 13,000 foreign fighters in Afghanistan (TTP-6,250, ISKP-3,000, AQ-400, AQIS-500, IMU-300, ETIM-300, Jamaat Ansarullah [Tajikistan]-300, Others-2,500). Islam clearly forbids terrorism, which has no place in the religion, as it takes innocent lives and spreads fear. Similarly, the brutal acts of Fitna al-Khawarij have no place in the Islamic religion, morality, or humanity. Their actions go directly against the Islamic values of peace, kindness, and respect for life. Unfortunately, the Taliban are doing this at the behest of India. India has consistently used Afghanistan as a proxy, where the Taliban regime has repeatedly facilitated and sent Fitna al-Khawarij into Pakistan, serving New Delhi’s interests. Counterterrorism operations conducted by Pakistan’s armed forces continue to expose Afghan-origin elements from the Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hind.
Pakistan has repeatedly provided irrefutable evidence in the presence of mediators, even during the latest mediation efforts in Istanbul. Pakistan has never asked the Taliban for the mere “relocation” of militants; rather, it demanded the dismantling of terrorist networks. The Taliban’s claims of “non-interference” are hollow, as they initially denied TTP operations from Afghan soil, later offered to relocate them to Pakistan, and now claim they are refugees. The Taliban regime, calling on Pakistan for security guarantees while sheltering TTP and BLA operatives, is contradictory. Even blocking Pakistani air operations effectively creates a safe zone for terrorists, a demand no sovereign nation could accept.
Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s Secretary of the Security Council, recently cautioned that terrorist and extremist groups operating from Afghanistan pose a “serious concern” for neighbouring states, and cross-border infiltration remains a major threat. On 27 November 2025, an attack on Chinese workers in Tajikistan from Afghanistan is only the latest display of the apprehension that Afghanistan has become a united state of terrorism. Meanwhile, on 26 November, 2025, the killing of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. by an Afghan immigrant, wherein CIA Director Akash Patel stated that Rahmaullah Lakawani, the perpetrator, was in touch with groups located in Afghanistan, raises serious red flags. The Taliban’s refusal to issue a fatwa against violence questions their priorities. The hypocrisy of the Taliban regime is also evident in their actions; they never condemn terrorist attacks inside Pakistan by Fitna al-Khawarij but do condemn anti-nationalist attacks in New Delhi. Real peace will not come from press statements or empty promises. It will come from concrete, verifiable actions taken on the ground. Afghanistan must act decisively against the terrorist groups operating from its soil to regain its lost trust, as the international community also questions its commitment to peace, stability, and responsible behaviour.
The writer is a geopolitical researcher.