Afghan Resistance Leaders: Zia (left) and Massoud (right)
The Diplomat: Taliban 2.0 have moved beyond traditional methods of administration and have been largely involved in managing anti-government forces rather than defeating them in numbers. This process began much earlier, around 2011, particularly in the northern provinces — the epicenter of anti-Taliban forces. 600 men from Panjshir have been incorporated into the Taliban’s defense and interior ministries, with another 1,500 to be recruited to protect Taliban interests in the province. Click here to read more (external link).
Khaama: A UN Security Council sanctions monitoring committee reported that members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement and Turkistan Islamic Party move freely across Afghanistan. According to the report, the groups finance their activities through involvement in poppy cultivation and mining operations, strengthening their presence in the region. The committee also cited reports that around 250 members joined Taliban police units in 2025, while fighters from Syria and neighboring countries were urged to relocate to Afghanistan. 
Khaama: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told ARY News that Pakistan may take action against militants operating from Afghanistan if security threats continue unchecked. He said some level of contact with Taliban authorities remains in place, but militant activity targeting Pakistan has not declined despite ongoing discussions. Pakistan has repeatedly accused militant groups based in Afghanistan, particularly the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), of carrying out cross-border attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians. 
Afghanistan International: Afghanistan remains among the world’s most corrupt countries, according to Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which shows the country’s ranking worsening slightly in 2025 under Taliban rule. The report shows Afghanistan scored 16 out of 100, ranking 169th out of 182 countries. In 2024, the country scored 17 points, placing 165th out of 180 countries. 
