Despite nearly five years of moderated engagement, the Taliban under Haibatullah have failed to meet basic state responsibilities, continuing to provide safe haven, logistical support, and operational space to terrorist groups like TTP (6,000 fighters), ISIL-K, and Al-Qaeda, as documented by the UN Monitoring Team.

The Taliban’s dual behavior — seeking international recognition, sanctions relief, and investment while maintaining authoritarian rule, severe restrictions on women, and economic mismanagement (leaving 28 million Afghans unable to meet basic needs) — reveals the emptiness of their diplomatic rhetoric.

The international community faces a critical choice: continued engagement without consequences has not produced responsible governance; stronger accountability, targeted sanctions, and support for the Afghan people (not the regime) are needed to address the growing security, humanitarian, and human rights crisis.

For almost 5 years the talks with the Taliban have been in a language of moderation. It has supplied dialogue, humanitarian access and engagement, and diplomatic access and taken multiple steps to demonstrate responsible conduct. The fundamental battle was always to make the point that Afghanistan should never again be a nation from which terrorist elements can recruit, train, fund and attack other countries. But this duty has been used like an inconvenience by the Haibatullah-led government elite, that could be withheld, postponed or ignored to ensure a fruitful and successful government.

No longer is the issue one of warnings being insufficient. It is their business-savvy refusal to listen that is the fault of the talibans. The United Nations Monitoring Team has reported in December 2025 that there is “no terrorist group operating” or “from Afghanistan” – a lie by the Taliban. It pointed out the........

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