How the taliban regained power in afghanistan / Mona Kanwal Sheikh.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sheikh, Mona Kanwal.

Mathiasen, Jan Werner, author.

Andersen, Lars Erslev, author.

Krause, Dino, author.

Wæver, Ole, 1960- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Taliban.

Afghanistan--Politics and government--2021-.

Afghanistan.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

2026.

London : Routledge, 2026.

Summary:

This book examines how the Taliban were able to regain power in Afghanistan in 2021, some 20 years after the US intervention. The volume presents an analysis of the factors that contributed to the Taliban's ability to seize power following the withdrawal of the international coalition in August 2021, marking the end of 20 years of international engagement in the country. It is the result of a thorough review of research and policy publications over the course of 20 years, and is based on open-source data, including threat assessments of the Danish intelligence services. There are multiple explanations in academic and policy reports as to why the Taliban were able to take power despite the efforts expected to prevent this from happening. Based on existing research literature, analyses, studies and reports, the book identifies five factors that are central to understanding the outcome. These factors offer overarching explanations for why the Taliban were able to regain power, with each encompassing different clusters of challenges that constituted central conditions for the Taliban takeover. Although the book is not about assigning blame, the explanations provided here can contribute to further discussion about how to ensure the necessary knowledge base for future decisions when confronted with new emergencies calling for possible international intervention. This book will be of interest to students of security studies, conflict resolution, Asian security, military interventions, peace building, and International Relations.

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Title Page

Copyright Page

Contents

List of Figures and Tables

Acknowledgements

List of Abbreviations

Preface

1. Introduction

Why raise the question?

Method, sources and structure

Limitations

Brief summary of the explanatory chapters

2. The Taliban: Their Strength and Strategy

Introduction

Background: The history and ideological roots of the Taliban

The development of the Taliban 2001-21

Combat capability and armed attacks

Territorial control

Shadow governments

Explaining the strength of the Taliban

The Taliban were strategically adaptable

The Taliban and the Haqqani-network aligned

The Taliban exploited the central government's legitimacy issues

Conclusion

3. Negotiations with the Taliban

Background: Negotiations without, with and only with the Taliban

The American negotiations detached the Afghan government from the process

Direct dialogue between US and the Taliban

The government sidetracked

The Taliban declared themselves victors

Intra-Afghan initiatives and the struggle for ownership

Focus on conditions for withdrawal

The internal dialogue fell apart

Rejection of power sharing

The regional neighbours compete for the mediator role

Pakistan

Russia

Iran

China

4. The US War in Afghanistan

Background: 9/11 and the fear of terror

Knowledge base: Iraq, Afghanistan, al-Qaeda and the Taliban

The course of the war

Stabilisation lacking, legitimacy disappearing

Counterinsurgency or counterterrorism?

Shifting American strategies

Consequences of the early decisions

Enlarged enemy

Legitimacy issues

The Northern Alliance or Pashtun insurgent militias?

Dysfunctional state and lack of accountability for legitimate governance

Conclusion.

5. Military Capacity Building: The Main Problems

Background: Sustainability, ownership and coherence

Twenty years of military capacity building

2001-06: Counterterrorism within the framework of Operation Enduring freedom

2006-11: Counterinsurgency under the International Security Assistance Force

2011-21: Transition, exit strategy and the Resolute Support Mission

The greatest challenges facing the military capacity building

Short-term objectives prevented local anchoring and Afghan ownership

Capacity building supported NATO and US - not Afghanistan

Fragmented responsibility and inadequate coordination

6. Civilian Capacity Building: The Main Problems

Background: The ideas and actors behind the civilian effort

The international effort over 20 years

2001-05: Focus on the legitimacy of the Afghan central government

2006-11: Counterinsurgency sets the framework

2011-21: Institution building

Comprehensive approach to security and development

The main challenges in the civilian capacity building

The security situation restricted the development

The military directed the efforts

Too much money

Domestic objectives behind the initiatives

External dependency

7. Conclusion: What Can We Learn from the War in Afghanistan?

Why did the Taliban regain power?

Lessons learned - Five problem complexes

Knowledge disconnect

Fragmentation

Civil-military (im)balance

Peace in war

Legitimacy

Appendix: On Learning

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-04-066542-X

1-04-056275-2

1-003-65294-8

9781003652946

1003652948

9781040562758

1040562752

OCLC:

1575179521

Publisher Number:

CIPO000314749