KABUL: Ismail Mia Khil, a former director of Afghanistan’s National Radio Television, has argued that the experience of the past three decades, particularly the Taliban’s rule since 2021, should inform how Afghanistan and the international community approach the group.
In an opinion article, Mia Khil said the Taliban’s ideology should be challenged through intellectual and political means and argued that religious extremism should be addressed by limiting the conditions that allow such ideas to be reproduced.
He called for an Afghan political system in which, in his view, no armed religious group would again be able to impose its authority over the country in the name of religion.
Mia Khil also argued that policies centered on advice, public declarations and appeals have failed to produce significant changes in the Taliban’s approach. He said pressure on the group should instead be sustained, organized and involve political, economic, legal and international measures.
According to his analysis, the Taliban respond more seriously to continued pressure than to what he described as inconsistent positions and appeals. He maintained that the experience of the past five years should lead policymakers to reconsider their approach toward the group.
The former media official’s comments come amid continuing international debate over engagement with Taliban authorities, particularly concerning governance, human rights, women’s rights, security and Afghanistan’s relations with neighboring countries.
Mia Khil’s assessment represents his political analysis and does not constitute an independently established conclusion about the effectiveness of particular policies. Different governments and international organizations continue to pursue varying approaches toward Afghanistan and the Taliban.