The Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021 dramatically altered regional geopolitics and security dynamics across South Asia. Nearly four years later, the country’s economic recovery continues to be precarious, the restrictions on women and girls remain in place, and the security situation remains fragile due to the presence of regional and global terrorist groups. While the Taliban regime’s inability to restrain groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Islamic State Khorasan Province have exacerbated tensions with some neighboring states and global powers, their ability to bring a modicum of stability to Afghanistan has generated opportunities to engage with others. This South Asian Voices series examines Afghanistan’s regional engagement under Taliban rule and analyzes how the Taliban’s governance and evolving priorities are reshaping diplomatic calculations throughout its neighborhood and with key stakeholders such as China and the United States.
In this series, Sibghatullah Ghaznawi analyzes how the Taliban’s economic imperatives and desire for diplomatic recognition are changing the regime’s calculus vis a vis India and Pakistan. Amina Khan examines the strained Pakistan-Afghanistan relationship amid the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s resurgence, arguing for a holistic bilateral engagement framework that extends beyond security concerns. Shalini Chawla highlights India’s cautious yet persistent engagement with the Taliban in recent years, explaining the drivers behind New Delhi’s post-2021 strategic shift to protect its regional interests. Leonardo Jacopo Maria Mazzucco explores the careful diplomatic engagement of Gulf Cooperation Council countries with the Taliban, revealing how regional powers are balancing security concerns with economic opportunities, in hopes to integrate a pragmatic Taliban into the international community.
Please return to this page as we continue to publish more analyses in this series.
