On Aug. 14, the Taliban marked the third anniversary of their return to power in Afghanistan with a public holiday and a televised military parade at the former U.S.-run Bagram airbase. Dubbed “victory day,” the celebrations occurred against the backdrop of global condemnation of the Taliban regime for creating what many call “the world’s most serious women’s rights crisis” and for making Afghanistan the only country where girls are banned from education beyond sixth grade.

Afghanistan is now a breeding ground for uncertainty. With a fragile power base and an escalating economic and humanitarian crisis, the Taliban face internal and external threats.

Neighboring countries, wary of a possible influx of international terrorist groups such as the Islamic State Khorasan Province, view the situation with increasing unease. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s foreign assets remain frozen, sanctions persist and humanitarian aid has been largely cut off. The U.S. withdrawal, far from the political settlement many hoped for, allowed the Taliban to seize power almost by default.

The absence of a comprehensive diplomatic effort has left Afghanistan’s neighbors in a precarious position, watching as the country teeters on the edge of deeper crisis. The implications of this power vacuum, particularly for global security, are profound.

Last month, the third round of UN-led talks on Afghanistan ended in confusion, revealing a persistent deadlock between the international community and the Taliban. Notably, this marked the Taliban's first participation in these UN-sponsored negotiations. Yet despite diplomatic efforts, the talks produced no reform pledges or concessions from the Taliban.........

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