Five years after Taliban takeover: Afghanistan's peace is shadowed by crises
Five years have passed since the Taliban entered Kabul on August 15, 2021, dismantling the Islamic Republic that had governed Afghanistan for two decades. President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, and the U.S.-led military mission ended, closing America's longest war. The Taliban once again became the de facto rulers of Afghanistan.
The most immediate change was the end of the conflict between the Taliban and the Afghan government. U.S. and NATO troops withdrew, and Afghan security forces collapsed within weeks. The Taliban moved swiftly to establish control over the government, armed forces and borders. Since then, no nationwide armed opposition has been able to mount a serious challenge, and for many Afghans the reduction in fighting has meant safer roads and fewer checkpoints. The daily risk of being caught in clashes has diminished significantly.
However, peace is not complete. The Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP) continues to carry out attacks, targeting civilians, Taliban personnel and foreign nationals. The Taliban have responded with military operations against the group. Additionally, tensions with Pakistan have grown, with each side accusing the other of harbouring militant groups. Border clashes have increased in frequency, complicating a relationship that once saw Pakistan as a key backer of the Taliban.
Another defining feature is the sharp reversal in women's rights. The Taliban initially promised to respect women's rights under Sharia, but the restrictions have only tightened. Girls are still excluded from secondary and higher education. Women have been barred from most fields of employment, face limitations on movement, and are effectively excluded from public life. The ban on education has long-term implications: without schooling, a generation of girls cannot become doctors, teachers or civil servants. Exiled women-run media outlet Zan Times has warned of this looming deficit.
Economically, Afghanistan has weathered the worst of the initial shock but remains in a fragile state. Before 2021, foreign aid underpinned much of the government's budget and economic activity. The sudden withdrawal of troops and donor funding triggered a severe contraction. Yet a total collapse did not occur. The Taliban have boosted domestic revenue collection, expanded trade with Central Asia and invested in infrastructure projects. They have managed to achieve a measure of stability, but this falls short of recovery. Poverty is still widespread, unemployment is high, and millions depend on humanitarian aid to survive. International sanctions and the freezing of Afghan central bank assets continue to handicap the economy.
On the diplomatic front, no country has formally recognised the Taliban government. While foreign states and the United Nations engage with them on humanitarian issues, recognition remains distant. The absence of legitimacy has implications for aid flows, foreign investment and Afghanistan's place in the international community.
Five years after the takeover, Afghanistan is a study in contradictions. The end of widespread fighting is real and welcome, but it has come with an authoritarian clampdown on women and dissenting voices. The economy has stabilised enough to avoid collapse, yet ordinary Afghans still struggle to make ends meet. The Taliban are firmly in control, but the country's deeper problems—insecurity, extremism, poverty and global isolation—remain unresolved.
