The rise of the Taliban to the government in Afghanistan: assessment of internal and external factors

The arrival of the Taliban in August 2021 has significantly affected Afghanistan’s governance, particularly in terms of service delivery for the betterment of the community at large and engaging stakeholders from different institutions in the decision-making process. This paper aims to analyse the governance of the Taliban, their role and policies towards internal and external factors, including regional relations and bilateral trade with China and Central Asia, geo-strategic significance, the role of public administration and women's rights in Afghanistan. Data was collected from 27 people, including government officials and common people. Snowball and purposive sampling techniques are used for research. The framework for the study is Braun and Clarke, which is for thematic analysis in six phases. Major themes from the survey highlighted that the Taliban’s goal is to establish peace and smooth administrative running of its institutions. The key stakeholders, including academics, policymakers, and individuals interested in Afghan governance and international relations, play a crucial role in the issue of Afghanistan as a country and society. They have realised that the internal ethnic strife and external forces are considerable factors contributing to the destruction of Afghan society. These stakeholders are actively working for peace and stability in the country.