Among 1,137 individuals mapped, ethnic Pashtuns dominate the Taliban's senior and mid-level ranks (90%), followed by Tajiks (5.4%) and Uzbeks (~3%).
Tribal Makeup in Leadership
In southern Afghanistan, leadership is dominated by tribes such as Noorzai, Ishaqzai, Barakzai, and Andar. In eastern/central Afghanistan, tribes like Zadran, Ahmadzai/Kochi, Pashai, Khogyani, and Solaimankhel hold sway.
Sanctions Status
Only 5.7% (65 individuals) of Taliban rank and file are variously sanctioned by major international actors like the UN, US, UK, or the EU.
Distribution of Leadership Positions
Director-level roles in local security and provincial governance account for most positions within the Taliban ranks. Human rights positions are the least represented category.
Military Background and Age of Leadership
Roughly 80% of the Taliban’s senior and mid-level ranks come from military backgrounds.
A young cadre of Taliban leaders aged 24-36 makes up the bulk of the government. While some exhibit a conciliatory stance, all remain steadfast in upholding the Taliban’s ideals of Islamic governance.
Links to Militancy
Words such as "explosives," "suicide bombing," "al-Qaeda," or affiliation with other militant groups appear in over 20% of profiles (as per current data).
Approximately 49 of these profiles show direct or indirect ties to al-Qaeda, underscoring the Taliban’s deep-rooted connections with global terrorism.
Non-Taliban Appointees
Among 1,137 individuals mapped, around 30 of the listed profiles are non-Taliban individuals either serving within or affiliated with the Taliban government, illustrating the insular nature of Taliban governance.
