Five Years Under the Taliban: Resistance and Education Challenges

As Afghanistan nears the five-year anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power, the country faces a complex mix of military challenges and social crises. Since August 2021, the Taliban has ruled with strict control, but recent events suggest their grip may be weakening. In August 2026, the regime briefly lost control of a district center in Badakhshan, a northeastern province. While the Taliban quickly regained the area, this event was significant because it was the first time they had lost a district capital since taking over the country.

Deutsche Welle (DW) reports that this incident is part of a larger trend of rising opposition. Former Afghan army general Sami Sadat recently ordered his forces to launch operations against the Taliban across the country. Additionally, groups like the National Resistance Front have been fighting the regime for years. While these groups have not yet threatened the Taliban’s overall power, experts suggest that the situation in Badakhshan could signal a new, more active phase of resistance. Former Interior Minister Mohammad Umer Daudzai noted that opposition has existed in both political and military forms, and both are now becoming more visible.

Beyond these armed groups, the Taliban also faces threats from the regional branch of the "Islamic State" (IS). This group has claimed responsibility for several high-profile attacks, including a suicide bombing that killed the Taliban’s Minister of Refugees, Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, in late 2024. These internal and external pressures have led some experts to warn of a dangerous future. Former Acting Minister of Defense Shahmohammad Miakhel told DW that if the Taliban’s current governing style continues, it could lead to more armed rebellion, interference from neighboring countries, and potentially "proxy wars" — conflicts where outside powers use local groups to fight on their behalf.

While military challenges grow, the Taliban’s domestic policies continue to face heavy criticism, particularly regarding education. The regime has banned girls from secondary schools and universities, effectively removing them from public life. However, NPR reports that the education crisis is also affecting boys. Although boys are still allowed to attend school, students describe a system that has changed drastically. Many young men feel that their schools no longer prepare them for the future because the focus has shifted away from subjects like science, mathematics, and foreign languages.

NPR spoke with students across several provinces, including Kabul, Herat, and Helmand, who described a new classroom environment. Teachers are now required to wear traditional clothing and include religious messages in every subject, even in science or math classes. As a result, many students feel that they are wasting their time. One student, 19-year-old Hashmat Mubariz, explained that before the Taliban returned, schools were places where students could share opinions and study a wide range of subjects. Now, the atmosphere is much stricter, and there is a heavy emphasis on religious instruction. The Taliban’s Ministry of Education has significantly increased the number of religious education centers, known as madrasas, while modern public schools have received much less support.

Internationally, the Taliban remains largely isolated. While they have built some contacts with other nations, most of the world’s governments still do not recognize them as the official government of Afghanistan. Only Russia has officially acknowledged the Taliban as the country's leaders. The Taliban often points to the restoration of security as their main achievement, but as armed groups continue to challenge them, this claim is being tested.

As the five-year mark approaches, the future of Afghanistan remains uncertain. The regime is dealing with a population that is increasingly frustrated by the lack of modern education and a growing number of armed opponents. Whether these pressures will lead to a change in policy or further instability is a question that remains unanswered. For now, the Taliban continues to rule with an iron fist, but the combination of internal dissent and a failing education system suggests that the next few years may be even more difficult for the regime than the last.