December 21, 2022
The international community fought the Taliban insurgency for 20 years, investing trillions of dollars and losing thousands of soldiers. However, Afghanistan’s Taliban swept to power on August 15th, 2021.
A year after, Afghanistan is at a crossroads, facing poverty and unprecedented socioeconomic, political, governance, and security challenges. These challenges partially predate the takeover of Kabul on August 15, 2021, but have worsened since then. The economic downturn has driven millions into deep poverty and hunger while foreign aid to a country over-dependent on overseas assistance has slowed to a trickle. Today, the Taliban struggles to govern with multiple sanctions imposed on the country and remains isolated internationally, primarily due to the gross neglect of human rights, especially women’s rights.
Can Afghans- women, men, and children, have a range of rights secured anytime in the future under Taliban rule? Yes, that is possible with the international community talking to the Taliban, urging them to practice progressive governance. The international community stresses that a regime trampling human rights cannot be recognized. Yet, international assistance addressing the multifaceted developmental, humanitarian, and security interventions for the benefit of ordinary Afghans should be considered.
The last twenty years bear testimony to the international community's failed military efforts to keep the Taliban out of power. Therefore, is negotiation with the Taliban using leverages available to the international community, not a preferred option?
Not talking to the Taliban now will isolate the Taliban regime and innocent Afghans. The isolated Taliban could quickly return to the reign of terror of the mid-1990s. Instead, the western powers should engage in diplomatic talks with the Taliban, with diplomatic leverages at the base of the negotiations.