In the past, the Taliban regime was not considered a legitimate government by either domestic or international entities. Pakistan, the only country to recognize the Taliban, has since withdrawn its support, and no other country has recognized them either. As a result, the Taliban are now isolated from world politics and diplomacy, and lacks any form of legitimacy.
The Taliban believed that if they seized power by force, the world would be forced to interact with them politically and diplomatically, leaving the people with no other choice but to submit to their system.
After seizing power, it became apparent that neither the world nor the people were willing to accept their terms and conditions and abide by their laws. As a result of their rule, hundreds of thousands of people fled the country, and thousands more continue to migrate to neighboring countries such as Iran and Pakistan. Those who left the country chose to remain in the host countries and never returned. The world is not prepared to officially recognize the Taliban, and even their close allies, Pakistan and Iran, have been hesitant to do so.
During the previous regime of the Taliban, I was in Afghanistan. I used to listen to international radio channels, which did not refer to the Taliban as Afghan rulers, the Afghan government, or Afghan government officials. Instead, they were referred to as the Taliban administration or Taliban emirate. Their foreign minister was not considered the foreign minister of Afghanistan, but rather the foreign minister of the Taliban. I questioned why, even though the Taliban had taken control of Afghanistan, their minister was not considered the minister of Afghanistan, and their representative was not considered the representative of the Afghan government. The world did not recognize them, and no economic or diplomatic interaction was established with them, leaving them isolated at the national and global levels. As a result, they were eventually removed from power through the use of military force.
During that period, the Taliban demonstrated an inflexible attitude, which they have maintained to this day. They denied women the right to work, study, and travel, among other things. Their current regime is a continuation of their past governing strategy, which included the suppression of media and the prohibition of criticism and protest. Today, history is repeating itself, with a group of mullahs once again being granted the power to rule the country.
In summary, the Taliban have reinstated their prior regulations, reinforcing their patriarchal practices. These resemblances between the position, status, and conduct of the Taliban demonstrate that their regime is not the Afghan government but a faction, which lacks both national and international legitimacy. The Taliban is a tyrannical group that misleads the people and the world, exploiting religion as a guise. Furthermore, they have no way of engaging with people and the world.
With their primitive mentality, they lack the ability to interact effectively. Under the guise of religion, they promote ideas that are not in line with the needs of the government, the times, and the people. All they do is a product of their primitive mindset, which is disguised as Sharia, misleading the people of Afghanistan and the international community.
If the foundation of a system is laid in such a way, it will not be able to stand, as the people involved lack the necessary experience and expertise in politics, and the nation and the world do not recognize it. As a result, the Taliban regime will not be able to sustain itself, as its leaders do not take the necessary steps to establish a system. If they approach such important and sensitive matters with skepticism, they will only hasten the downfall of their administration. The mysterious murders of their officials in different cities under Taliban rule are a sign of their impending failure. The timeline for the establishment of a non–Taliban administration in Afghanistan will depend on the future actions of the Taliban, the cooperation of the people with the world, and global events.
Given the rapid changes occurring in the world, it can be predicted that the Taliban‘s rule will soon experience a sharp decline. History has shown that no administration can remain in power if they continue to act in the same manner as the Taliban.
The Taliban may believe that the mullahs have been successful in establishing a religious government in Iran, which has endured for four decades despite tensions with the outside world and internal conflict. They likely have similar thoughts regarding Saudi Arabia, and in Qatar a group is ruling that shares many similarities with them. Despite its many shortcomings, this government has remained stable. The Taliban may thus believe that they too can establish an autocratic administration in Afghanistan.
Given these conditions, it is clear that the Taliban will not be successful. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Qatar have been under the control of unelected rulers in varying geopolitical and economic circumstances. Each of these countries is wealthy in oil and gas, which is provided to the ruling elite. As a result, their economies have grown in other areas even after many years. In Afghanistan, however, none of these resources are available, and manufacturing industries have not advanced. The Taliban also lack the knowledge and experience in politics, diplomacy, and economics to maintain a balanced relationship with the great powers. Furthermore, they have no financial resources or diplomatic capabilities to take advantage of the strategic position of the country, nor can they establish constructive relations with the countries of the region and the world. Therefore, it is not reasonable to compare this group to the rulers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran. Consequently, it is evident that the Taliban will not be successful in this situation.
Furthermore, the Taliban have declared their government to be the only legitimate Islamic government in the world, asserting that Sharia is not upheld in any other Islamic nation. Consequently, it is evident that dishonesty does not pay off.