Afghanistan is slipping further into crisis as international aid dries up and the Taliban-led government fails to fulfill its promises of reform, peace, and basic rights. Following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, billions in foreign aid were suspended — most notably by the United States and European countries — over concerns about human rights violations and growing insecurity.
While the Taliban claimed it would form an inclusive government, ensure the protection of women’s rights, and prevent Afghan soil from being used by militant groups, none of these promises have been meaningfully honored. Instead, the regime has imposed harsh restrictions on women, banned girls from attending school beyond grade six, and shut down all avenues of female education and employment. Women are now barred from most public spaces, silenced in society, and effectively erased from the economy.
Security, too, remains a growing concern. Despite repeated assurances to the international community, the Taliban has failed to take action against militant groups operating inside Afghanistan. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), and other extremist outfits continue to use Afghan territory to plan and launch cross-border attacks, threatening regional stability — particularly in Pakistan and Central Asia. The Taliban’s reluctance or inability to confront these groups signals either covert alignment or complete loss of control.
Instead of working toward stabilizing the country, the Taliban leadership continues to prioritize ideological control over governance. With international isolation deepening, Afghanistan’s economy has collapsed, public services have vanished, and widespread poverty has engulfed the population. The Taliban’s refusal to meet basic international conditions — such as curbing extremism, restoring girls’ education, and allowing free humanitarian access — has only hardened donor positions.
The result is a country abandoned by global aid and ruled by an administration that neither governs effectively nor protects its citizens. Without urgent international pressure and internal reform, Afghanistan risks becoming a permanent haven for extremists — and its people will remain the first and greatest victims of broken promises and deepening insecurity.
