ORDER within any household endures only when an elder or guardian assumes responsibility for its affairs, guiding family members with wisdom, discipline and authority. When every individual begins to act as the head and makes independent decisions, the household inevitably descends into disorder, for no structure can survive when leadership is scattered. This domestic metaphor aptly mirrors the present state of Afghanistan, where the absence of an uncontested central authority has led each province, tribe and faction to carve out its own path. It is a land that has long struggled to establish a fixed centre of gravity, rarely succeeding — and today’s era is no exception.

The Taliban, once confident in their absolute control over Afghanistan, now face growing internal discord and rising resistance. Their attempt to project a unified Islamic order has given way to a fractured administration struggling to assert authority amid widening rifts. Tribal loyalties frequently overshadow ideological cohesion and field commanders in the north and west increasingly defy directives from Kabul. The re-emergence of local militias further fragments the country, threatening even the limited order the Taliban had imposed. Since their return in August 2021, deep fissures between religious leadership and various factions have undermined governance, revealing that the image of unity was far more fragile than presented.

History vividly illustrates Afghanistan’s persistent disunity. Once, influential Afghan chieftains gathered in Makkah and pledged before the House of God to end internecine conflict. Yet upon returning home, old animosities resurfaced and even sacred vows could........

© Pakistan Observer