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By Abdul Naser Noorzad

The fall of the republic in 2021 was not merely a political defeat; it was the collapse of political ethics and the fundamental values of Afghan society. This downfall was the result of years of opportunism, nepotism, and kleptocracy, which, under the guise of democracy and the representation of the people's will, existed only symbolically and superficially. The republic followed a path that had already been paved for it—a path that ultimately led to the peak of crisis and collapse.

In this fall, sublime values such as freedom, liberty, civilization, and the defense of basic human rights were sacrificed, replaced by primitive barbarism and intellectual stagnation. Four years after this event, Afghanistan's crisis has not only remained unchanged but the Taliban regime continues to survive within the framework of the security and geopolitical games of major and colonial powers. In such circumstances, the spirit of independence and the real experience of freedom remain unattainable for the Afghan people.

How can a country trapped in the whirlpool of political and security crises still burn with the desire for freedom and independence? Has every post-independence war crisis led to the fall of political systems? The fall of the republic was, in fact, the fall of the mindset of struggle and the pursuit of justice. The mass exodus of millions, both military and civilian, paved the way for the emergence of Talibanism—a phenomenon in which the spirit of resistance against tyranny was suppressed and faded.

Even the Taliban did not expect such a historic and widespread flight, believing that people who had grown up in a relatively free and educated environment for two decades had learned to say "no" to tyranny. But they were unaware that this environment had been created by the entry of the US and its allies and the injection of massive financial projects, and with their withdrawal and the cessation of support, everything collapsed.

Now, four years into the Taliban's autocratic and despotic regime, why has the spell of greed and power monopoly not been broken? Why does the quest to make power a legacy continue despite its disastrous consequences? People who witnessed how power-hungry and opportunistic politicians squandered the meager achievements of twenty years are still seeking privileges and shares. These same failed politicians, with their misguided policies and internal divisions, weakened national cohesion and paved the way for collapse. Relying on corrupt and unprofessional figures in key positions intensified the system's inefficiency and destroyed the government's legitimacy.

The fall of the republic symbolized weak leadership and structural corruption in the Afghan government. A structure drowned in corruption and incapable of providing services eventually collapsed. The lack of transparency and accountability widened the gap between the government and the people every day. A government without a nation and a nation without a government; a nation artificially shaped by history, but the fall of the republic and the ensuing crises stripped the people of all the foundations of nationhood. The inability to create national unity and manage ethnic diversity deepened social divides and distanced the political system from the people. This reinforced the idea of a mono-ethnic system and increased the sense of alienation among the people. Neglect of social justice and human rights brought public dissatisfaction to its peak.

Excessive dependence on foreign support made the republic fragile and vulnerable. The system's inability to confront security threats and terrorism left the people defenseless. The Taliban easily seized a system built with costly global investment, and everything collapsed at once—as if nothing but the shadow of a state had existed.

Ineffective economic policies spread poverty and unemployment and deepened class divisions. Incomes were extremely unequal, making every member of society susceptible to corruption and illegal income. Instead of strengthening democracy and the rule of law, Western thinking created a consumerist society obsessed with fashion. Young people, instead of participating in the country's reconstruction, focused more on earning money and emigrating. Neglect of education and training left the younger generation hopeless about the future and intensified the wave of migration.

The government had effectively become an obstacle to peace and stability, and the Taliban exploited this environment to strengthen themselves. Justice, which had not been realized in the democratic system, was symbolically implemented by the Taliban in remote mountains and plains. Corruption in the judicial system, police incompetence, bullying, and abuse of power further destroyed the concept of justice every day.

A government formed by international intervention and the injection of huge sums of money collapsed with the cessation of this support. The officials of the system saw this injection of money as an opportunity for wealth accumulation and never anticipated the widespread crisis of collapse. Today, with all resources in the hands of the Taliban, those same individuals are seeking opportunities to reclaim their windfall wealth.

This crisis is not only about the loss of resources but also the collapse of mindsets and national will. The lack of crisis management and the absence of emergency planning accelerated the fall of the system and created disaster. This fall is the fall of mindsets—a collapse that has made it difficult to mobilize the nation again to determine its destiny. A nation whose members are all seeking ways to escape has lost the meaning of struggle. How have more than thirty million people knelt before a group of less than a hundred thousand and lost the will to resist? Everyone is waiting for a foreign miracle, hoping that colonial powers will once again bring change with their plans and save them from the Taliban.

The fall of the republic in Afghanistan was not only the collapse of a political system but also the defeat of political ethics, a crisis of national identity, and the loss of hope for the future. As long as Afghan society does not rebuild its mindset, revive national values, and achieve intellectual and practical independence, the spell of crisis and dependency will remain unbroken.

As the poet says:

God granted sovereignty to a nation that wrote its own destiny;

He has nothing to do with a nation whose farmer sows for others.

Abdul Naser Noorzad was a lecturer at Kabul University. He has an MA in National Security Studies. He has written a couple of books about Afghanistan's security and political situation and has published dozens of articles in English, Persian, and Spanish. His research area includes security and politics.

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The article does not reflect the official opinion of the AISS.