Understanding the Taliban: What Do They Want?

While peace negotiations with the Taliban have gained momentum, many questions remain unanswered about their vision for Afghanistan’s future. How have the Taliban evolved over the past 17 years? What do they aim to achieve in the current negotiations? Who makes the decisions, and does their negotiating team represent the broader Taliban movement, much less other elements of the insurgency? Why is the militant group willing to negotiate with the U.S. but not with the Afghan government? Also, what assurances are there that the Taliban will honor their promises, including those involving human rights and the presence of terrorist groups on the Afghan soil? Would the Taliban settle for sharing power, or is it aiming to monopolize power? Most important, are the Taliban’s goals for Afghanistan compatible with the principles of a democratic constitutional order?