International Sanctions Regime against Afghan Taliban: An Analysis

Abstract

The resurgence of Afghan Taliban after International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in August 2021 surprised the world for their resilience and organized combat potential. Contrary to US expectations, Taliban defeated the ‘well trained’ and well equipped Afghan Army and formed an exclusive Taliban government while implementing their previously framed policies. Violations of human rights and denial of women rights outlined Taliban’s intentions of their future pursuits against the international standards. To prevent Taliban realigning with terror groups and force them to regulate their policies in line with the international values, the US reinforced the existing sanctions regime against Taliban. These sanctions deprived Afghan Taliban to access their foreign reserves and improve economic situation of the country. On the other hand, the sanctions have created a catastrophic humanitarian situation for the Afghan public with regards to food scarcity and devastating health infrastructure. This paper is aimed at analyzing the implications of international sanctions regime and its efficacy in regulating Taliban’s policies.