Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi on the Taliban and Relations with Foreign Powers

While jihadists not aligned with the Islamic State were generally supportive of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan and saw the group’s victory as a victory for Islam and Muslims, this support for the Taliban is not necessarily unconditional and free of criticisms or reservations. One of the foremost tensions between the Taliban’s project and jihadism is the issue of the Taliban’s position in the wider international community and the subject of relations with non-Muslim powers, especially non-Muslim/perceived non-Muslim powers that are seen as causing harm to Muslims.