Non-State Actors in Contemporary Conflicts: The Taliban’s Influence on Afghanistan’s Post-2021 Peace and Security Landscape

Henry Amangi Halliday; PhD

doi:10.56201/jpslr.vol.12.no6.2026.pg1.13

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Non-State Actors in Contemporary Conflicts: The Taliban’s Influence on Afghanistan’s Post-2021 Peace and Security Landscape

Henry Amangi Halliday, PhD

Abstract

The study investigated the evolution of the Taliban and its impact on the peace and security situation in Afghanistan since 2021 and its impact on human security, political legitimacy, social inclusion and long-term stability. The study used the qualitative descriptive method that relied on the documentary analysis of scholarly and institutional resources related to the Taliban governance, non-state actors, human security and post-2021 Afghanistan. The analysis was based on Rebel Governance Theory which sought to understand how armed non-state actors establish authority, deliver selective order and govern through coercion and service provision. The findings revealed that the direct war between the former republic and the Taliban ended with the end of constitutional governance and replacing it by a centralised Emirate system, while the Taliban strengthened the territorial control and ended the war with the former republic. Women's education, employment, mobility and public participation were limited, weakening human security. Legitimacy was still a subject of debate as the Taliban held institutions that were not recognized by the people or by the majority of the international community. Social inclusion was negatively affected through the exclusion, fear and surveillance of women, minorities, journalists, activists and former officials. Long-term stability continued to be fragile and vulnerable because of ISKP attacks, anti-Taliban resistance, border tensions, economic and humanitarian dependence. It was found that the rule of the Taliban brought forth hard peace instead of just peace. In order to restore inclusive governance, protect rights, reopen inclusive education and employment space for women and seek political accommodation with Afghanistan's diverse social groups, the Taliban should focus on restoring inclusive governance, protect rights, reopen education and employment spaces for women and pursue political accommodation with Afghanistan’s diverse social groups.

Keywords

Non-state actorsTaliban ruleAfghanistanhuman securityrebel governance

References

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Non-State Actors in Contemporary Conflicts: The Taliban’s Influence on Afghanistan’s Post-2021 Peace and Security Landscape

Abstract

Keywords

References

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