RASC News Agency: According to The Diplomat, the continued rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan could generate broader security implications for the region and the world. Analysts warn that diminishing global attention to Afghanistan similar to the period preceding the September 11, 2001 attacks may facilitate the rebuilding of dangerous non-state networks.
A 2025 assessment by the United Nations sanctions and support monitoring team states that the Taliban are still accused of enabling the presence of several armed groups in Afghanistan, including networks linked to al-Qaeda and its associated factions. The report suggests that certain religious schools and educational centers in eastern and northeastern Afghanistan may have been used for ideological and military indoctrination of children. The Taliban have rejected these allegations, repeatedly asserting that Afghanistan’s territory will not be allowed to be used to threaten other countries.
UN analysts have also highlighted the activity of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in parts of Afghanistan. Estimates indicate that approximately 6,000 fighters linked to this group may be operating from Afghanistan’s territory. In 2025 alone, more than 600 attacks attributed to the TTP were recorded in Pakistan, primarily targeting military and government installations and resulting in dozens of casualties.
The report also references cross-border tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan. Pakistani military retaliatory operations in border areas of Afghanistan are reported to have resulted in the deaths of at least 50 Afghanistan’s civilians in some estimates. Meanwhile, border trade restrictions are believed to be costing Afghanistan approximately one million U.S. dollars per day, further weakening the country’s fragile economy.
Within the broader regional context, including strategic competition between India and Pakistan, such instability could contribute to deeper South Asian security volatility.
The Diplomat analysis identifies Taliban social policies as another major source of international concern. Restrictions on women’s access to education, employment, and public participation are argued to weaken moderating social forces while strengthening ideological control mechanisms within families and communities. Early and forced marriages are reported as growing consequences of these policies, potentially cutting off educational opportunities for Afghanistani girls.
The report also suggests that discrimination against non-Pashtun ethnic groups and religious dissenters may reinforce historical patterns of recruitment for transnational extremist organizations. Analysts argue that social repression and the expansion of radical ideologies can interact in ways that mutually reinforce instability.
The analysis warns that global strategic focus on Afghanistan has been declining. Some observers compare this situation to the international neglect of Afghanistan prior to the 9/11 attacks. The country may once again become a space where networks threatening regional and international security can operate.
The report also raises concerns about potential international recognition of the Taliban government, arguing that such recognition should be contingent upon verifiable changes in security and human rights policies.
Meaningful progress in Afghanistan’s international relations, the authors argue, requires Taliban commitments that can be independently verified, including:
• Severing ties with terrorist networks
• Preventing cross-border militant activities
• Establishing an inclusive political system
• Respecting human rights and women’s rights
The report concludes that the international community must balance humanitarian assistance with strict mechanisms preventing aid diversion to armed groups. Targeted sanctions, enhanced financial monitoring, and stronger support for Afghanistan’s civil society are proposed as part of a broader crisis-management strategy.
