The Taliban are in charge. So now what?

Who are they and where does their ideology fit with the larger world of Islam?

IN THE NEWS:

The Taliban are now firmly in control and in charge of Afghanistan. But how will they govern?

The news from Afghanistan is bleak. For example, according to the BBC, the CEO of the Islamic Bank of Afghanistan is raising the alarm that his country’s financial industry is at the precipice of an “existential crisis”. To be sure, Afghanistan’s economy was in dire straits before the Taliban took over. But now, the West has frozen international funds to Afghanistan. And the issue isn’t just finance. According to the Wall Street Journal, the harsh reality of the Taliban’s rule is far different than the placid image they want to project to the world. For example, the Taliban have banned teenage girls from going to school, many working women have been sent home from their offices, and, in some provinces, women are not allowed to leave their homes without a male escort. In addition, they have reintroduced harsh Islamic punishments, including public executions.

To better understand the Taliban’s creed and aspirations in the context of the larger world of Islam and, more specifically, Afghanistan’s history, we spoke with Professor Timothy Nunan. He is a lecturer…