Sharia Absolutism at Home, Realpolitik Abroad
The Taliban govern through a stark duality: rigid Sharia enforcement at home paired with flexible, interest-driven diplomacy abroad. Domestically, religion is used to silence women, suppress dissent, and mask governance failures. Yet the same regime that polices Afghan society with severity adopts a pragmatic tone toward India, Russia, and the TTP. This selective morality reflects political survival rather than theology, with lasting implications for Afghanistan and the wider region.
The Rentier Insurgency
The Taliban’s recent outreach to India marks more than a diplomatic shift—it exposes the economic engine that has driven their power for three decades. From exploiting the Afghan Transit Trade in the 1990s to monetising ties with al-Qaeda and now courting New Delhi, the Taliban have mastered the art of rentier insurgency. Their survival has never depended on developing Afghanistan’s economy, but on extracting revenue from regional rivalries and geopolitical anxieties. As Pakistan clamps down on smuggling routes that once bankrolled the movement, the Taliban have turned to India in search of their next patron.