Afghanistan Under Taliban: Relative Security Amid Economic Crisis, Renewed UN Sanctions

Khatol Momand

Kabul: More than four years after the Taliban’s return to power, Afghanistan remains at a critical juncture, marked by relative improvements in security but overshadowed by deep economic hardship, social restrictions, and sustained international pressure.

Since the Taliban takeover, large-scale armed conflict and front-line battles that dominated the country for two decades have significantly subsided. Residents in several urban centers report improved day-to-day security and greater freedom of movement. Nonetheless, security concerns persist. The Islamic State’s Khorasan branch (ISIS-K) has carried out sporadic attacks, underscoring lingering threats to long-term stability.

Economically, the country continues to struggle. Afghanistan’s economy has contracted sharply in recent years, with declining investment, banking constraints, and widespread unemployment compounding the difficulties faced by ordinary citizens. International agencies estimate that a substantial portion of the population depends on humanitarian assistance. Food insecurity remains acute, particularly in rural areas. The large-scale return of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries has further strained limited resources and public services.

Human rights, especially the rights of women and girls, remain at the center of international scrutiny. Restrictions barring girls from education beyond the sixth grade, limits on women’s access to higher education and employment, and constraints on civic participation have drawn sustained criticism from global actors. Media organizations and civil society groups also report operating under significant limitations. Taliban officials, however, maintain that their policies are implemented in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law.

International pressure intensified this week as the United Nations Security Council voted to extend sanctions against the Taliban. According to Radio Azadi, the Council renewed the mandate of the committee overseeing sanctions under the 1988 sanctions regime, originally established in 2011. Under this framework, individuals, groups, companies, and entities associated with the Taliban remain subject to asset freezes, travel bans, and an arms embargo. Concerns over human rights violations, particularly the continued ban on girls’ education beyond the sixth grade, were cited among the principal reasons for maintaining the sanctions.

Nasir Ahmad Faiq, Afghanistan’s chargé d’affaires to the United Nations, welcomed the Council’s decision, saying it demonstrates that the international community has not forgotten Afghanistan. He emphasized that counterterrorism commitments must be upheld and that women’s rights must be restored. According to Faiq, forming an inclusive government is not merely an option but the only viable path toward sustainable peace.

In contrast, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid dismissed the extension of sanctions as a “failed strategy,” arguing that international policies should be reconsidered to enable constructive engagement.

As Afghanistan explores this complex landscape, the reduction in widespread violence offers a measure of stability. Yet severe economic distress, restrictions on fundamental rights, and ongoing international isolation continue to shape the country’s uncertain trajectory. Will the international community’s pressure and sanctions be enough to prompt meaningful change? Can Afghanistan find a path toward inclusive governance while addressing human rights, security, and economic recovery? Or will the ongoing challenges deepen the country’s isolation and hardship?

For millions of Afghans, the answers to these questions remain far from certain.