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By Faramarz Tamanna
CIPS Policy Report, June 2025

At a glance…

• Following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, Afghanistan has faced a profound multifaceted crisis, which includes, among other things, a dire humanitarian situation, a human rights catastrophe and growing security threats.
• This policy document provides a thorough analysis of the current situation in Afghanistan and presents a set of recommendations to help address these challenges.
• It places particular emphasis on defending women’s rights and gender equality, strengthening civil society institutions, supporting democratic processes, and preventing the normalization of relations with the Taliban in the absence of rights-based conditionality and fundamental reforms.
• This document underscores the need for a renewed and well-coordinated international response that simultaneously exerts targeted pressure on the Taliban while ensuring the provision of humanitarian aid, strengthening Afghanistan’s economic foundations and providing space and opportunity for national dialogue and reconciliation.
• It further stresses the importance of placing the people of Afghanistan, including Afghan political and civic forces, at the core of any international efforts concerning Afghanistan.
• To this end, it offers policy recommendations on smart sanctions and conditional engagement as well as support for political settlement, women’s rights, sustainable economic development, and counterterrorism efforts under a holistic approach.
• Moreover, it highlights the crucial leadership role of Canada and other like-minded countries in shaping a new international approach to Afghanistan that prioritises the human rights agenda in any engagement regarding Afghanistan.
• The recommendations outlined herein serve as a roadmap for Canadian policymakers, the United Nations, and the international community in their efforts to promote human rights, inclusivity, stability, development, and prosperity in Afghanistan. Afghanistan stands at a critical crossroads—a defining historical juncture between fear and hope.
• The choices made today by Canada and the broader international community will determine whether the country moves toward inclusive development, democratic reintegration, and global cooperation or falls deeper into isolation, repression, and protracted instability with dangerous implications for Afghanistan, the region and beyond.

Faramarz Tamanna is a Visiting Professor and postdoctoral fellow at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and also a Research Associate at CIPS, uOttawa. He was a Professor and the Chancellor at the University of Afghanistan and Director General of the Center for Strategic Studies of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is an expert on Afghanistan and Regional Politics, Foreign Policy, security, and International Relations. Tamanna authored five books and tens of articles on these topics.