The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has repeatedly failed to meet basic international expectations by continuing to shelter terrorist groups (TTP, Al-Qaeda, IS-K), as documented by the UN Monitoring Team, while pursuing diplomatic recognition and sanctions relief.

This behavior has severe domestic consequences: 28 million Afghans face basic needs shortages, women are heavily restricted (education, work, movement), clinics have closed, and the regime governs through fear and ideology rather than responsible governance.

The author argues for a shift to conditional, measurable diplomacy: humanitarian aid should continue via independent channels, but travel exemptions, sanctions relief, and engagement must be tied to verifiable counter-terrorism actions, while supporting Afghan civil society, women, and regional coordination to pressure the Taliban without collective punishment.

For almost 5 years the talks with the Taliban have been in a language of moderation. It has provided dialogue, humanitarian engagement, and diplomatic access and multiple opportunities to demonstrate responsible conduct. The basic fight always was to make the point that Afghanistan should never again be a place where terrorist groups can recruit, train, fund and strike other nations. However, the Haibatullah-led government elite has been using this simple duty as an inconvenience, one that can be withheld, postponed or ignored to ensure a fruitful and successful government.

No longer is the issue one of warnings being insufficient. It’s the Taliban’s business-savvy unwillingness to listen. In December 2025, the United Nations Monitoring Team noted that there are “no terrorist groups operating or from Afghanistan” – a claim by the Taliban that did not hold true. It pointed out the existence of the ISIL-K, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan,........

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