The Taliban's adherence to the 2021 Doha Agreement has come under renewed scrutiny as Donald Trump's return to presidency approaches. The accord, which led to U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, has faced significant implementation challenges with reported violations by the Taliban regime.
Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio has called for designating the Taliban as a "terrorist organization," highlighting concerns over Afghanistan's territory being used as a safe haven for terrorist groups. Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken had previously cited "serious violations" of the agreement, particularly regarding Al-Qaeda's presence.
United Nations reports indicate the presence of 6,000-6,500 TTP fighters in Afghanistan, with recent intelligence suggesting increased operational support from Al-Qaeda networks. Defense analysts emphasize this poses a significant threat to regional stability.
On the humanitarian front, UNICEF reports over 4 million children are out of school, while UNESCO documents that 2.5 million girls have been denied education under Taliban rule. The Center for Information Resilience has recorded 332 cases of violence against women.
While Zalmay Khalilzad expresses optimism about full implementation of the Doha Agreement under Trump's presidency, security experts emphasize that addressing terrorism and restoring human rights will likely be primary challenges for the incoming U.S. administration.
