Many assume that this recognition, along with any that may follow, will strengthen the Taliban’s grip on power. Rather than cementing the Taliban’s rule, recognition could speed the divisions already pulling it apart. Recognition comes with responsibility, and for the Taliban, that responsibility falls into two areas. In early 2025, Taliban Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai even fled the country after backing girls’ education. Above all, it risks creating an identity crisis among Taliban members, which can be harnessed by other extremist groups in the country.