Ideological Transition of the Afghan Taliban

The Afghan Taliban(hereafter termed the Taliban) has returned to power in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US troops from the country. However, acquiring political legitimacy at home and winning international recognition abroad remain daunting tasks for the Taliban, which will largely hinge on the group's transition away from its previously radical ideology. The ideology of the Taliban can be categorized as a brand of traditional Islamism blended with unique Afghan characteristics, which incorporates a variety of elements ranging from Deobandism, Pashtun rural and tribal cultures, Wahhabism, and Salafism to political Islam and carries a combination of many attributes. For instance, it emphasizes religious legitimacy stemming from the outward display of piety but overlooks the importance of political legitimacy. Moreover, it pursues Pashtun supremacy and practices sectarianism. However, driven by the needs of successive resistance and governance, the ideology of the Taliban has been undergoing a transition in recent years. Notably, pragmatism has begun to emerge, along with pluralism and religious inclusion;the emphasis on outward manifestations of piety has been reduced;efforts have been made to seek integration into the international system;and there appears to be a willingness to follow international norms. Despite all that, the core of the Taliban ideology remains intact, which still falls within the ambit of Islamism, as evidenced by the theocratic regime it has established in Afghanistan and its governing philosophies that advocate mullahs running the country. The Taliban has been shifting its ideology toward modern Islamism, which lacks successful governance practice. As an armed religious group, the Taliban faces tough challenges in governing the country, which include, but are not limited to, conservative mindsets and skill deficits. To tackle the challenges effectively, the Taliban should continue to focus on political legitimacy and advance the transition of its ideology.

The Pashtun Trajectory:From the Colonially Constructed Notion on‘Violent’Pashtun Tribe to‘Non Violent’Pashtun Tahafuz Movement

Pashtuns have been subjected to the colonially constructed representation of themselves which is grounded on certain generalisations and stereotypes that were framed and propagated during the time of British military encounters with the frontier tribes,residing in Afghanistan and present day Pakistan’s frontier region.The oriental representation of the Pashtuns in western academic writings is the result of the vast literature that were produced based on the experiences of British military expeditions against the so-called tribal Pashtuns.Although throughout history there have been instances of non-violent movements initiated by the Pashtuns,the persistence of colonial knowledge has made it impossible to deconstruct the notion surrounding Pashtuns as‘inherently ferocious’and‘violent’in nature from the popular conscience.In such an environment the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement(PTM),a non-violent human rights movement in Pakistan,is trying to present a counter narrative to the image of‘Violent Pashtuns’from the popular discourse at present.This research critically analyses the representation of Pashtuns in both past and the contemporary literature and other popular media which help in building narratives and deciding on the policies of the state(Pakistan)and other(religious,social or political)organisations towards this group.It highlights the importance of rising beyond the orientalist discourse to focus more on local narratives in understanding about the Pashtuns and their problems.

The Ideological Trajectory within the Taliban Movement in Afghanistan

The ideological transition within the Taliban movement has witnessed several trajectories.Starting from a socio-cultural movement for bringing about law and order in the society as the ruler of Kabul in the mid-1990s;the movement experienced various phases where its norms and practices appeared alien to the socio-cultural fabric of the majority part of the modern Afghan state.At the present juncture,the movement’s aim is to become the ruler of Kabul again but with a new outlook.The movement and its leadership have entered an epoch different from the old Taliban to neo-Taliban and presents themselves as chief propagators of peace within the organisation that only reflects the Taliban’s desperate attempt to save the movement and present it as an alternative to the US backed Afghan government.