Taliban’s Recapture of Afghanistan: Future Implications for Global, Regional and Domestic Stakeholders

Abstract

Afghanistan emerged as a significant concern of foreign policy for the entire region when Taliban regime was overthrown by the U.S and NATO forces in 2001 with subsequent rise of a coalition of different ethnic groups to power. Although ousted from the government, the Taliban fighters kept their struggle alive through insurgency and attacks on the Allied forces and remained a crucial stakeholder in Afghan politics. Taliban regained control after the coalition government collapsed amid U.S withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, leading to peace and security concerns for not only Afghanistan but also the entire region. This paper seeks to address the structural complexities and security challenges involved in the peace process and reconstruction of Afghanistan due to regime change. As per the study, the security challenges require immediate concern as the repercussions may bring large-scale regional collapse. Many efforts were made by the U.S and other regional stakeholders to restore peace in Afghanistan but the internal political dynamics and contrasting interests of stakeholders spoiled the reconciliation process. After the Taliban takeover, the regional stakeholders have been constantly in engagement with the Afghan government for reconciliation in a non-confrontational manner. However, the domestic and external drivers of the conflict have aggravated the dynamics of regional security to prevent peace building in Afghanistan. Thus, an active participation and long term engagement by international and regional community is essential for addressing the security challenges, enduring peace and socio-economic stability.