The Taliban (Pashto for "Students") is an ultraconservative political and religious faction that functions as the de facto ruling government of Afghanistan, which it calls the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. It is also classified as a militant organization. The movement emerged in the mid-1990s, founded by Mullah Mohammad Omar, primarily in response to the chaos, crime, and corruption that followed the Soviet withdrawal and the civil war among rival mujahideen groups (1992–1996). The Taliban promised to restore stability and rule of law, seizing power in 1996 and establishing its first regime.
The mechanism of governance is an authoritarian system centered on a supreme leader, currently Hibatullah Akhundzada, who issues fatwas that serve as law. The regime enforces a strict interpretation of Sharia (Islamic law), blending it with Pashtun nationalism. The 2004 Constitution of the former Islamic Republic was replaced by governance through written and verbal decrees. This mechanism is enforced by institutions like the re-established Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
The Taliban connects to international security concerns through its historical sheltering of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, which triggered the US-led invasion in 2001. It also maintains links with groups like the Haqqani Network and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The most significant recent change is the return to power in August 2021 after a 20-year insurgency, dissolving the Islamic Republic and re-establishing the Islamic Emirate. What has remained consistent is the core policy of enforcing a harsh interpretation of Sharia, notably the systematic restriction of women's rights, including the ban on girls' education past primary school. The regime has further codified its restrictions with laws like the Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in August 2024.