Five Years of Taliban Rule: Implications of International Engagement with a Repressive Regime

Since seizing control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban has established a system of rule that is characterised by the systematic repression of human rights, gender apartheid, deepening humanitarian and security crises, and a complete rejection of international norms and obligations. While the international community has largely withheld formal recognition, many states and international organisations engage with the regime on an ad hoc and varied manners to pursue humanitarian, security, migration management, and geopolitical objectives.

Proponents of engagement often argue that these approaches can moderate Taliban policies and mitigate regional and global risks. However, the lack of tangible progress raises difficult questions about the efficacy of these strategies. It also highlights the broader implications for international norms, security, and the future of Afghanistan amid the wider erosion of a rules-based international order.

The 2026 Afghanistan Conference is hosted by the University of Melbourne’s Initiative for Peacebuilding, in partnership with the Monash University node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence against Women (CEVAW), and a network of Australian universities. Building on the successes of our annual conferences held since 2023, this event marks five years of Taliban rule. It brings together leading academics, practitioners, and members of the Afghan diaspora community in Australia to examine the evolving nature of the regime, the consequences of international engagement, and the risks of global inattention.

*This event is by invitation only.