Two decades after its removal from power in 2001, the Taliban regained its control on Afghanistan with the withdrawal of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces led by the United States. Although the Taliban continued its armed resistance against NATO forces for two decades, the “peaceful” negotiations between them and the United States paved the way for them to regain power. This political change shifted the power dynamics within Afghanistan, but it equally raised questions about regional stability and peace in the region. However, after coming to power in 2021, the Taliban exhibited a “new politics” for regional powers to engage with at different levels. This paper traces the trajectory of the Taliban from the early 1990s to its re-emergence in recent times. By looking into the engagement of regional powers, such as India, Pakistan and Iran, the paper aims to evaluate the new politics ofthe Taliban and its attempts to reach out to the neighbouring states.
