In October 2024, The What If organized a dialogue to better understand the perspectives of both supporters and opponents of international sanctions on Afghanistan, and to explore more sustainable solutions within the existing sanctions framework.
Objective of the Dialogue
To assess whether international sanctions on the Taliban are achieving their intended goals, and to explore alternative strategies that could hold the regime accountable without devastating the Afghan population.
A bit of context
Afghanistan has been under sanctions since 1999.
When the US troops withdrew in August 2021, the country was largely dependent on foreign aid and investments.
In the period following the withdrawal, problems associated with limited cash liquidity, caused by sanctions, boosted food and fuel costs. Meanwhile, unemployment surged due to the departure of humanitarian organizations.
Humanitarian aid is still primarily provided by Western actors. However, the flow of essential goods is consistently impeded due to the restrictions on capital flow as part of the international sanctions against Afghanistan.
Those in authority can manipulate the distribution of resources, often prioritizing their own interests over the well-being of civilians. The Taliban’s misallocation of resources in a resource-scarce environment disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable and marginalized Afghans, specifically women and ethnic minorities.
Participants’ Backgrounds
Human rights defenders, economists, journalists, former Afghan government employees, political analysts, and diaspora youth—some speaking from within Afghanistan, others from exile, with deep lived experience in humanitarian aid, policy, and civil society.
Five Key Takeaways
Sanctions Have Failed to Shift Taliban Policy
Military, economic, and travel sanctions have not altered the Taliban’s behavior. Girls remain banned from school, women are blocked from work, and rights violations continue. As multiple speakers noted, the Taliban were brought to power with external approval, they are not shaken by restrictions.
But the Sanctions Are Crippling the People
Afghans face rising poverty, food insecurity, and economic paralysis. Aid is limited, the banking system is frozen, and even NGOs struggle to operate independently. The impact is especially severe on households without male breadwinners, pushing women and children into early marriage, child labor, and dangerous migration routes.
Women Bear the Brunt of the Collapse
Female participants described how sanctions deepen structural inequality. With women already barred from work or public life, economic isolation hits them hardest. Access to healthcare, education, and livelihoods has collapsed. Even owning a sewing machine is now out of reach for many women entrepreneurs.
Sanctions on political travels have no effect, but to lift economic sanctions, they can present conditions such as, for instance, if political sanctions are lifted, trade or imports could happen with a specific share allocated to women.
The International Aid Architecture Is Broken
Participants called out vague international policies, lack of oversight, and contradictory aid flows. While $40 million weekly is delivered to Afghanistan, nominally for humanitarian purposes, much of it ends up empowering the Taliban rather than the people. Calls for direct aid channels to vetted local actors were consistent and urgent.
Support should be directed to local organizations instead of channeling it through the Taliban.
There Is No Change Without Political Inclusion
Several speakers emphasized the lack of legitimate representation for the Afghan people in international negotiations. Sanctions, aid decisions, and political dialogues are made without their voice.
The international community needs to back those who oppose the Taliban, elevate them, and pressure the Taliban to engage in internal dialogue.
——–
All participants names are withheld to protect their anonymity and safety.
We used AI to help us with the summary of the dialogue’s transcript, and with the copy editing of the final draft.
