Taliban took over Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, after the signing of the Doha agreement between the United States and the Taliban. The agreement sets the date for the withdrawal of the US troops and puts a condition on the Taliban to prevent groups such as Al-Qaeda from threatening the security of the US and its allies.
The return of the Taliban has significantly affected Central and South Asia; it has exacerbated tension related to perceived security threats, including border security, the issue of refugees, and humanitarian crises. For instance, the Taliban’s return raises severe security concerns for Pakistan as organizations like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISI-K) have increased their operation.
Similarly, there has been an issue of outflow of refugees from Afghanistan resulting from factors like economic collapse, severe restrictions by the Taliban, poverty, and natural disasters. Besides, there has been an issue of drug trafficking, cross-border skirmishes, and increased militancy.