Taliban leader and Supreme Leader of Afghanistan Hibatullah Akhundzada has issued a decree removing the term “acting” from all government titles and structures, signaling that the group now considers its administration the permanent government of Afghanistan.
Since taking power in August 2021, following the collapse of President Ashraf Ghani’s government, the Taliban has consistently referred to its administration as an “interim government.” Ministers, governors, ambassadors, and cabinet members all held positions on an “acting” basis, a designation the group said was maintained for political reasons. Officials argued that the label helped project flexibility and left the door open for future political arrangements that could meet international expectations.
The Taliban, officially known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, marked the fourth anniversary of its return to power on Friday. For years, its portrayal as an interim authority was partly intended to address international criticism over the lack of a formal peace settlement or transfer of power. Many countries had also conditioned deeper engagement on the Taliban forming a more inclusive government that reflected Afghanistan’s ethnic and political diversity—something Kabul has not pursued.
Over the last two years, however, the Taliban government has secured a series of diplomatic breakthroughs, normalizing relations with countries such as China, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and most Central Asian states. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have even removed the Taliban from their lists of banned organizations, a move seen as a step toward full recognition.
The group’s most significant diplomatic achievement came last month, when Russia officially recognized the Taliban government after removing it from its blacklist—making Moscow the first country to take such a step. That recognition appears to have emboldened Afghan leaders to present their administration as permanent rather than transitional.
With no organized internal opposition and no government-in-exile mounting an international challenge, the Islamic Emirate’s staying power has been increasingly acknowledged by regional states. In Central and East Asia in particular, governments now see engagement with Kabul as both unavoidable and necessary for stability.