Five years since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan: key questions examined
August 15 marks five years since the Islamist Taliban movement returned to power in Afghanistan. LSM reviews how the country's situation has changed across several key areas during this period.
On August 15, the Taliban, the Islamist movement ruling Afghanistan, marks five years since it seized power in the country. The anniversary marks a significant milestone in Afghanistan's recent history — since the Taliban regime consolidated its rule, the country has undergone drastic changes across several areas of life.
Women's and girls' rights
One of the central topics when looking back at the past five years is the situation of women's and girls' rights in Afghanistan, which has become one of the most widely discussed domestic policy issues internationally since the Taliban's return to power.
Economic recovery without improved living standards
Although the country's economy shows certain signs of recovery, this has not automatically translated into improved living standards for residents — this contradiction is one of the issues examined when looking at the five-year period following the Taliban's takeover.
Opium poppy cultivation
One question tied to the Taliban regime's policies is whether it has succeeded in curbing opium poppy cultivation in the country — a topic linked both to Afghanistan's domestic economy and to international narcotics trafficking.
International isolation
Another relevant question over the past five years concerns whether the Taliban regime has managed to overcome the international isolation it faced after taking power in 2021.
A broader explanatory piece brings together these and other questions, offering insight into Afghanistan's current situation five years after the Taliban's return to power.
