After 4 years of repressive Taliban rule, Afghans are suffering in silence. Is the world still watching?

As the last US and NATO troops departed the country, the Taliban swept back into power and the Afghan people braced for an uncertain future.

Despite promises of moderation and inclusion, four years later, the Taliban has established a repressive, exclusionary regime – one that has dismantled institutions of law, justice and civil rights with ruthless efficiency.

As the Taliban regime has tightened its grip, international attention has waned. Crises in Ukraine, Gaza and elsewhere have dominated the global agenda, pushing Afghanistan out of the spotlight.

With the Taliban seeking to end its isolation and gain legitimacy, can the international community find the will now to exert real pressure?

After 4 years of repressive Taliban rule, Afghans are suffering in silence. Is the world still watching?

Russia and China have started to bring the Taliban in from the cold. The international community may soon have little leverage to pressure the group to change.

^{The Conversation}