Spiegel, 15 August 2026
Veteran Afghanistan reporter Christoph Reuter looks back at five years of the Taleban’s second rule. (in German):
Afghanistan, five years after the Taliban came to power, appears to be a changing picture: Depending on your perspective, the “Emirate” is a success in terms of state building, economy and infrastructure compared to its corrupt predecessor republic, which was only able to survive on drips of billions in Western payments and military aid. Or it is a self-destructive reign of terror by Islamist fanatics that deprives women of almost all rights and causes the people to sink into poverty.
Both are true. The Taliban have created a paradox, are both pragmatic and fanatical, caring about Afghanistan’s future and destroying it. They have failed to live up to many predictions about how they would govern after their victory – for better or worse.
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This article was last updated on 20 Aug 2026
