Afghanistan Monitor - Volume 5

The Afghanistan Monitor, a regular publication by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Pakistan, extensively covers Afghanistan's political, economic, security and humanitarian landscape since the Taliban's ascendancy. This edition focuses specifically on postOctober 2023 developments till December 2023 and features expert analyses.

Since August 15, 2021, the state of affairs in Afghanistan has been constantly evolving as the Taliban assumed power as the de-facto authorities. Despite being in power for over two years, uncertainties regarding the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan remain, particularly over issues such as governance, inclusivity, human and women's rights, and counter-terrorism assurances -- matters that the Taliban had agreed to in the Doha agreement. However, considering the past two years, there is a nuanced understanding of the Taliban's governing style which is characterized by a combination of authoritarian policies and selective pragmatism.

In their diplomatic efforts, the Taliban now actively seek integration into the international community, a notable departure from their isolation in the late 1990s. While the Taliban have seemingly solidified their position as the de facto political authority in Afghanistan, their formal recognition from the international community remains elusive. They are still facing challenges in achieving political and social cohesion vis-à-vis inclusivity and representation of ethnic minorities.