In a new analytical report, The Diplomat magazine says the Taliban have remained ideologically unchanged five years after returning to power. However, the group has learned from the mistakes of its first period in government and strengthened its methods of controlling and managing society.
A United Nations official told the magazine that the Taliban remain fundamentally the same, but have become more adept at maintaining their grip on power and communicating their messages.
According to the report, although security in Afghanistan has improved since the withdrawal of US and NATO forces, this has come at the cost of restricted individual freedoms and expanded surveillance of the population.
The report states that the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior has made it compulsory to register the identities and movements of guests at hotels and public venues. It has also established numerous checkpoints across the country.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch, in its latest report, has documented increased media censorship and tighter restrictions on freedom of expression. According to the organisation, journalists, university professors and civil society activists face the risk of arrest, torture and intimidation.
The Diplomat report also notes that opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has declined by 96 per cent, while people struggling with drug addiction have been forcibly transferred to treatment centres. However, girls remain barred from education beyond Grade 6, and severe restrictions have been imposed on women’s presence in public spaces and their social interactions.
The report says Afghanistan continues to face a deep economic crisis and widespread poverty under Taliban rule. United Nations figures indicate that more than 17 million Afghans around 40 per cent of the country’s population are experiencing severe food shortages.
The magazine further reports that the withdrawal of international aid organisations and diplomatic missions has led to the loss of thousands of jobs, while women have also been prohibited from working. The situation is deteriorating further as Afghan migrants are being forcibly returned from various countries.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
