Taliban’s search for legitimacy

Six months after assuming control of Afghanistan and the withdrawal of US forces, the interim Taliban government in Kabul is still striving to seek legitimacy. Not even a single member of the United Nations has granted recognition to the Taliban regime, which is augmenting frustration and anger in their rank and file.

In a recent interview, the acting interior minister of the Taliban regime, Sirajuddin Haqqani, said that if the US did not grant legitimacy to the Taliban government, it would result in non-compliance with the Doha agreement, and the Taliban would pursue a hostile policy against the US. He also said that with “the illegitimacy of the Taliban regime, the doors of animosity with the Afghan people will be kept open”.

This is the same Sirajuddin Haqqani who is believed to be heading the Haqqani network carrying the head money of $10 million for his involvement in terrorism. Haqqani’s important position as interior minister has not garnered much attention from the US. However, his warning to the US is an eye-opener. The Taliban regime is expected to revert to a hostile policy with the US, which would put the Doha agreement at stake. Although the Taliban later clarified that Haqqani did not use a threatening tone in his interview, the level of mistrust and animosity between the Taliban regime and the US continues unabated.

The recent meeting in Oslo, which involved participants from the Taliban regime and Western powers including the US, indicates some engagement with the Taliban. However, this will not be without conditions. The final communiqué issued after the Oslo talks further clarified that diplomatic engagement with the Taliban regime does not mean recognition. The Western participants at the Oslo meeting reasserted that the Taliban regime will not be granted legitimacy until their demands are accepted in letter and spirit. Some of the Western demands include the formation of an inclusive government; adherence to human rights, particularly the rights of women and minorities; and not victimising those who were part of the pre-August 15, 2021 government in Kabul.

Why has legitimacy not been granted to the Taliban regime by the outside world? Will the US adopt a policy shift concerning the Taliban? Should legitimacy granted to any Afghan government be linked with democracy, political participation, and electoral support, which the Kabul regime must seek from the people?

Despite Pakistan’s best efforts for the world to grant legitimacy to the Taliban regime, the outcome has remained poor. The visit of National Security Adviser Dr Mooed Yusuf to Kabul in January was another attempt by Islamabad to pursue communication with the Taliban regime by focusing on trade and communication ties, and clearing any misunderstandings concerning the Pak-Afghan border fencing. The UN Secretary General also appealed for humanitarian assistance i.e. food and medicines for the people of Afghanistan. However, the point of contention between the Taliban interim government and the US is the release of $9.5 billion of Afghan money that has been held by Washington since the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani government in August last year.

One can analyse three major realities, which the Taliban regime must consider before arguing for international legitimacy.

First, despite Taliban’s assurances of not resorting to retaliatory measures against their opponents and complying with human rights, the reality on the ground is different. The UN has accused the Taliban of extrajudicial killings of those who were part of the previous government and security forces. They have also delayed the reopening of schools for girls and not allowed women to work. The restrictions imposed on Afghan women of not traveling without an immediate male relative brought back memories of the inhumane practices taken up by the Taliban regime during 1996-2001. In fact, Taliban’s public image is part of the problem. Their retrogressive, backward, and brutal manner of handling things is regularly reported in the international media. The Taliban interim administration has made several attempts to redeem its image, however, the realities on the ground particularly those on the rights of women are such that the world cannot ignore them. The benign image that the Taliban wants to present about their civilised mode of governance is having little impact.

Second, legitimacy is earned and not sought by force. Indeed, Afghanistan has never been a democratic state in a classical sense. However, from 2001 till 2021, some sort of participatory democracy in the form of elections both presidential and parliamentary existed in Afghanistan. Although there was a presence of foreign forces in the country and allegations of rigging in elections were common, the people had some political voice and a say in the mode of governance. The Taliban regime did not follow a constitutional process, hold elections, or seek legitimacy from the people. Instead, they occupied Kabul and other parts of the country and imposed their rule. They cannot demand recognition from the world when they do not have popular legitimacy from the Afghan people. Recently, the Taliban and Myanmar regimes protested to the UN that their seats are held by opponents. Both have occupied their countries by force and are now desperately trying to gain international legitimacy. Perhaps, the Taliban may want to reconsider their approach in light of this.

Finally, the Taliban have made no indication of any plans to seek legitimacy from the people of Afghanistan. If they think they have local support, they should form a political party and launch a political process by holding elections. They should allow their opponents and other groups to contest against them in the elections under the supervision of the national election commission as was done before they seized control. Despite the Taliban government’s claims that they are seeking international legitimacy, their actions have proved otherwise. By dismantling institutions that were in place before 15^th August 2021, the Taliban have created a legitimacy crisis for both themselves and the Afghan people. To gain international legitimacy, the Taliban regime needs to do much more than mere lip service.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2022.

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