Five years since the Taliban came back to power, Afghanistan has continued to undergo a tough test as far as determining whether the acquisition of territories can be translated into sustainability and security. The UN Security Council discussions on Afghanistan held on 16 September 2026 revealed the fact that the fundamental questions that pertain to the Taliban regime have remained unanswered.
The discussions combined issues that have become increasingly hard to differentiate. The problem of terrorist organizations constitutes a security issue while the lives of women and girls are still restricted. Participation in politics is limited while the neighbouring countries raise concerns as far as threats posed by Afghan territories are concerned.
Security remains at the centre of the debate. While the Taliban authorities have presented the reduction of conventional fighting as evidence of improved security, UN officials and several Security Council members have continued to raise concerns about terrorist organisations operating in Afghanistan. Groups including ISIS-K, Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan remain part of international security assessments.
This matter is of immediate significance for the neighboring countries of Afghanistan. Pakistan, on several occasions, has raised instances of attacks and militancy by groups based in Afghanistan. While speaking at the Security Council meeting, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad stated that terrorism continues to be the most critical factor behind the crisis in Afghanistan. He also cited some groups which are perceived as security threats.
The broader international concern is whether counterterrorism commitments can be translated into actions that are concrete and independently verifiable. Diplomatic assurances alone do not eliminate the operational capabilities of militant groups. Effective counterterrorism requires restrictions on organisational networks, financing, recruitment, movement and access to territory.
This question has particular importance because Afghanistan’s security environment has implications beyond its borders. Instability can create opportunities for militant organisations to expand their networks, while weak financial controls can facilitate terrorism financing and other illicit activities. Consequently, the international community continues to focus on whether Afghan authorities can demonstrate sustained action against groups that threaten Afghanistan, its neighbours and the wider international community.
The situation concerning human rights constitutes yet another key challenge. The restrictions that apply to women and girls have continued to be one of the biggest international concerns after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. In the Security Council meeting in September, UN officials and some member states again emphasized such restrictions.
The consequences extend beyond individual rights. Afghanistan requires educated workers, professionals and institutions capable of supporting economic recovery. Limiting access to education and employment for women reduces the country’s available human capital and creates additional obstacles to long-term development.
The issue has also become closely connected to Afghanistan’s international engagement. Many governments and international organisations have made improvements in women’s rights and girls’ education an important part of their dialogue with the Taliban authorities. As a result, progress on social restrictions is not simply a domestic policy question; it also influences Afghanistan’s relationship with international institutions and potential partners.
A third issue here concerns political inclusion. While the Taliban have created an effective system of control over the land and the institutions of statehood in Afghanistan, political structures in Afghanistan are dominated by the de facto regime. One might say that for the political stability to become sustainable, greater levels of representation and accountability are required.
It is worth pointing out the difference between the concepts of control and legitimacy. While the regime can be in power in the territory in question, there might be some doubts concerning participation and representation of various groups.
The security council meeting in September also underlined the regional implications of Afghanistan’s troubles. Pakistan, China, Russia and other countries all have their own strategic interests in Afghanistan, but all are united in their worries about terrorism, borders and regional stability, and the presence of foreign militants has just added to these worries.
For Pakistan, the issue has an especially direct dimension because of the country’s long border with Afghanistan and its exposure to cross-border militant activity. Islamabad has consistently argued that Afghan territory should not be used against neighbouring countries. The position reflects a broader principle also relevant to the international community: Afghanistan’s security cannot be separated from the security of the region surrounding it.
On the other hand, there is economic pressure for Afghanistan. The country coming out of years of war needs investment, jobs, infrastructure, and functioning institutions. In addition, international isolation could make the attainment of all these goals more challenging and political/security considerations could prevent further economic interaction.
This leads to a complex process where political limitations lead to international isolation, which then leads to economic limitations, which can contribute to instability, which creates security problems. Resolving this process demands progress in several fronts rather than just one particular aspect.
The September discussion in the Security Council, as a result, represents a wider evaluation of the five years under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. The issue at stake here is not just the ability of the Taliban to keep control over the territory, but their ability to develop a model of sustainable governance in terms of security, politics, human rights, and regional commitments.
For the Taliban authorities, demonstrating progress will require more than statements about stability. It will require evidence that terrorist organisations are being effectively constrained, that neighbouring states are protected from threats originating in Afghanistan, and that restrictions affecting women and girls are being addressed. It will also require institutions capable of accommodating broader political participation and accountability.
For the neighbors of Afghanistan, their main concern still remains the prevention of further regional insecurity due to Afghanistan. For the international community, the question is how to engage Afghanistan, taking into account the issues which were always present during the five years of Taliban control.
Five years on since the Taliban regime took control over Afghanistan, the territory of this state became more consolidated and administratively stabilized, but many questions regarding its future development still remain. The September 2026 Security Council session has shown that issues of terrorism, human rights, political participation and regional security still make one whole complex issue.
The future of Afghanistan will be evaluated not only based on the absence of warfare in this state, but also based on the capability of its rulers to ensure security, good governance, wide political participation and protection of basic human rights. Five years since the Taliban control is therefore rather a starting point than an end point.
Author:
Ali Mehar
Ali Mehar is a student of BS International Relations at Quaid e Azam University. He can be reached at @ alimeharmail50@gmail.com
Source: https://southasiajournal.net/post/afghanistan/61756/the-unresolved-test-for-afghanistan-five-years-under-the-taliban-regime
