Afghan Ambassador to Switzerland Says Taliban Lack Legitimacy to Rule

KABUL (Afghan Verified) -- Nasir Ahmad Andisheh, Afghanistan's ambassador to Switzerland, stated that the Taliban have no legitimacy to govern the people of Afghanistan, describing their regime's claims as devoid of national, legal, international, traditional and religious values.

In a post on X on Thursday, Feb. 13, Andisheh wrote that the Taliban operate without the vote or will of the nation, having abolished the constitution, lacking global recognition and national consensus or loya jirga, thus holding no legal or popular legitimacy.

He argued that from a religious perspective, the Taliban have no right to rule, as no one can assume governance without the people's input and the presence of legal representatives.

"No ruler can claim divine legitimacy without public consent, and a group cannot exclusively monopolize the interpretation of Sharia," Andisheh said.

The remarks come amid the Taliban's imposition of severe restrictions on daily life since regaining control of Afghanistan, including barring women from political, economic, social and cultural spheres.