Since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in August 2021, they have repeatedly promised transformation; pledges of inclusive governance, security, and stability that would redefine Afghanistan’s trajectory. But more than four years on, the gap between rulerly rhetoric and on‑the‑ground reality has only widened.
The promises made by the Taliban — whether to the international community, neighboring states, or their own citizens — were always ambitious. They spoke of a state that would eliminate terrorist threats, empower communities, and foster peace after decades of war. Instead, the regime has presided over internal repression, exclusionary governance, and a persistent failure to control extremist elements on its soil.
Concrete incidents highlight the ongoing threat. In early January 2026, Pakistani security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Bajaur, resulting in the elimination of another Afghan terrorist. The operation underscores that Afghanistan remains a hub for militants and that Taliban pledges to prevent the use of their territory for terrorism remain unfulfilled.
Internationally, the Taliban committed to curbing terrorism and preventing Afghan territory from being used to threaten other states. Yet serious concerns remain about Afghanistan as a launchpad for extremist activities. United Nations monitoring reports have described Taliban claims about combating militant groups as unreliable, with multiple factions; including TTP, Al‑Qaeda, and other armed groups, still active within Afghanistan.
This failure to deliver on security guarantees has strained diplomatic relations with neighboring countries. Pakistan, for example, has repeatedly urged the Taliban to take decisive action against terrorism emanating from Afghan soil. Islamabad has publicly stated that the Taliban’s governance has not fulfilled pledges to rein in insurgent groups responsible for attacks across the border, arguing that mere rhetoric is insufficient without concrete steps.
Domestically, governance under the Taliban has been marked by centralization of power, ideological rigidity, and suppression of dissent, outcomes starkly at odds with early assurances of broader representation and administrative competence. Reports highlight deep structural weaknesses within the regime, including poor institutional capacity and internal discord, which undermine sustainable governance and social stability.
Most strikingly, the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls represents one of the clearest examples of unfulfilled pledges. Despite earlier statements suggesting that women would participate in public life and education, the reality has been a systematic rollback of rights, from limitations on education and work to broader curbs on freedom and movement. This regressive turn has not only isolated Afghanistan internationally but has also crippled its social and economic recovery.
Promises of economic revitalization and development have also fallen short. Afghanistan continues to struggle under the weight of sanctions, declining aid, and a stagnating economy, with many analysts pointing out that the exclusion of half the population, women, from full participation in society significantly limits growth prospects.
In essence, the Taliban’s track record confirms a troubling pattern: bold pledges followed by inaction or contradiction. Whether on security, rights, governance, or diplomacy, the chasm between promise and practice raises deep questions about their ability, or willingness, to transition from insurgency to responsible statecraft.
For Afghanistan’s people and its neighbors, this isn’t merely a matter of broken promises. Incidents such as the Bajaur operation, where another Afghan terrorist was eliminated, make clear that words without accountability risk perpetuating instability, isolation, and suffering — exactly the outcomes the Taliban once vowed to end.
