August 15, 2024, marked three years since the ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’ (IEA) assumed power as the de facto, though not de jure, political authority in Afghanistan. Over the past 3 years, Taliban’s governing structure has evolved and taken shape, into what can be defined as an authoritarian yet selectively pragmatic governing style. The IEA have managed to establish a fair degree of stability and security throughout the country, demonstrated pragmatism in economic matters, clamped down on corruption, and banned poppy cultivation. They have increased their diplomatic outreach and enhanced trade with neighboring and regional countries. However, at the same time, the performance of the group has been open to much debate and criticism, particularly due to the IEA’s inability or unwillingness to fulfill pledges of reform. This had been agreed to in the Doha agreement; issues specifically pertaining to human/women’s rights, inclusivity, and counter-terrorism assurances. Hence, their overall performance has shown both positive developments and significant drawbacks, suggesting that the Taliban’s performance is still a work in progress.
