The international community is facing a growing challenge regarding the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, as a consistent pattern of non-compliance with both written and verbal agreements has emerged. Despite securing significant concessions and financial aid, the Taliban’s failure to uphold key commitments, including those in the 2020 Doha Agreement with the U.S. and a 2024 trilateral pact with the UAE and Pakistan, is escalating security fears and humanitarian crises in the region.
Broken Promises and Intensified Insurgency
The core of the issue lies in the Taliban’s perceived deceit following the 2020 agreements. The first part of the Doha Accord obligated the Taliban to engage in intra-Afghan negotiations for a political settlement, alongside the release of 5,000 prisoners. However, instead of pursuing dialogue with the previous government, a significant number of the released detainees reportedly rejoined militant activities, and the insurgency intensified, culminating in the swift march on Kabul.
Since taking power, the regime often referred to as “Taliban 2.0” has reverted to exclusionary and obscurantist policies. This includes the highly criticised bans on female education and employment for women, actions that have drawn widespread international condemnation.
Exclusionary Governance and Ethnic Imbalance
The composition of the Taliban government reflects a deep-seated ethnic and militant-based bias, raising serious concerns about representation and national unity. The regime is dominated by Pashtuns and current or former members of the militant Tehreek e Taliban Afghanistan (TTA).
| Ethnic Group | Estimated Population Share | Cabinet/Shura Representation |
| Pashtun | 42% | Holds PM, key ministries, and dominates Kandhar Shura |
| Tajik | 27% | 2 members in the 49-member cabinet |
| Uzbek | 9% | 2 members in the 49-member cabinet |
| Hazara | 8% | 0 members in the cabinet (no stated figure) |
| Baloch | N/A | 2 members in the cabinet |
| Nuristani | N/A | 1 member in the cabinet |
The governing Kandhar Shura, which provides the regime’s ideological and political direction, is reported to be composed entirely of Pashtuns. The 49-member cabinet, including the Prime Minister, has limited representation for non-Pashtun groups, with key ministries remaining in the hands of Pashtuns.
Afghanistan as a Safe Haven for Terrorist Groups
A critical breach of the second part of the Doha Agreement, which stipulated that Afghan soil would not be used to threaten the security of other countries, is a major focus of international security reports:
Al-Qaeda Presence: The killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri in a U.S. drone strike in Kabul in August 2022, a full year after the Taliban takeover, directly contradicted the commitment. Furthermore, former CIA officials and UN Monitoring Team Reports (35th and 36th, 2025) have indicated that senior Al-Qaeda figures, including Saif al-Adl and Hamza Bin Ladin, are believed to be in Kabul under the protection of the Afghan Taliban.
Support for TTP: The 36th UN Monitoring Report (2025) and the SIGAR Quarterly Reports (Jan and Jul 2025) detail the regime’s alleged support for Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). This support reportedly includes the provision of safe houses by the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) in Kabul, along with movement passes, weapon permits, and immunity from arrest for TTP leaders.
Growing Threat: The UN estimates that 6,000–6,500 TTP fighters are operating in Afghanistan. A 2024 trilateral agreement with Pakistan and the UAE, intended to relocate TTP terrorists away from border areas, yielded minimal results, with only a few hundred relocated and no effective monitoring or information sharing.
The consequences for regional stability are evident, with Pakistani security forces having neutralised a total of 267 Afghan nationals identified as fighting in counter-terror operations between April and September 2025. Pakistan has also identified 58 terrorist camps, staging posts, and lodging facilities operated by TTP and BLA inside Afghanistan with the alleged knowledge of the Kabul regime.
Funding and Accountability
Despite these concerns, the Taliban regime continues to receive substantial external funds, including an estimated $80 million per month from the U.S. alongside significant contributions from UN donor agencies. Critics argue this funding has not incentivised better behaviour; instead, there are reports that some UN donor funds are being routed to the TTP under the guise of assistance for refugees. Additionally, NATO equipment worth approximately $7 billion reportedly fell into the hands of anti-Pakistan proxies and other terrorist organisations, dramatically increasing their combat potential.
The cumulative evidence strongly suggests a need for the international community to move past diplomatic appeals and consider punitive measures to hold the Taliban accountable for their solemn commitments on governance, human rights, and regional security.
