Taliban's Governance Faces Economic and Security Challenges

By David Okafor

Afghanistan, under the Taliban's governance since 2021, has maintained a degree of internal stability, but faces significant economic and security challenges. According to the UN's 16th Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team report, while internal peace is present, women, girls, and minority groups continue to experience severe repression.

The Taliban have managed to reduce poppy cultivation significantly, with 2025 levels more than 95% below their 2022 peak. However, the threat from ISIL-K persists, and cross-border attacks by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Pakistan pose ongoing security risks.

Economically, Afghanistan's real GDP grew by an estimated 4.8% in 2025, driven by strong domestic demand and the return of approximately 3.7 million Afghans. Despite this growth, per capita GDP fell by 5.6% due to rapid population growth of 11% in 2025. Inflation rose to 7.6% by March 2026, exacerbated by food price pressures.

Internationally, the Taliban-led government remains largely unrecognized, with Russia being the only country to have formally recognized it as of July 2025. However, pragmatic interactions continue, with regional conferences and meetings with EU representatives indicating some level of engagement.