Author(s)

Bowen Song¹, Yuanhao Tian²

¹Institute of International Relations, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.
²Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.

This paper examines the foreign relations and international impact of the Taliban during their first period of rule from 1996 to 2001, focusing on interactions with global and regional powers amid the backdrop of the Afghan Civil War. The Taliban’s rise to power reshaped Afghanistan’s political landscape and posed challenges to the international order through its strict Islamic governance and strategic alliances. Despite limited international recognition, the Taliban engaged in diplomatic and military relations with key actors, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Russia, and neighboring Islamic states. These interactions were shaped by a complex mix of ideological alignment, security concerns, and economic interests. By analyzing the Taliban’s foreign policy during this period, the study provides insights into their approach to governance and international relations, offering a framework to understand the potential foreign policy strategies of the newly re-established Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The study highlights the Taliban’s influence on regional stability and the global response to Islamic extremism, drawing lessons from history to assess the future implications for the international order.

Afghan Civil War, Taliban, Islamic States, Global Powers, Regional Powers, International Order

Song, B. and Tian, Y. (2025) The Research of the Foreign Relations of the Afghanistan Taliban during the First Administration. Open Journal of Political Science, 15, 207-224. doi: 10.4236/ojps.2025.151013.