On 4 February 2025, with a video link from the Mitchell Institute’s Fellows’ Room, Professorial Research Fellow Michael Semple gave a presentation for the UN Afghanistan team on Taliban ideology.

The presentation covered what the movement is teaching its cadres and the implications for peace-making in Afghanistan.  The briefing was based on Semple’s reading of a newly published Pashto text which presents the Taliban’s version of history and worldview.  Discussion focused on how better understanding of Taliban ideology and strategic intent can help in making sense of current political developments and in rethinking the Afghan peace process. 

From the UN side, Special Representative of the Secretary General, Roza Otunbayeva, deputies Georgette Gagnon and Indrika Ratwatte and senior staff participated.  The exercise was an interesting example of how scholarship can speak to policy and strategy issues on the response to global conflict.

 

Professor Michael Semple 

Michael Semple is Professorial Research Fellow: Complex Conflict and Peace Research based at the Mitchell Institute.  Michael was previously Practitioner Chair.  He works on innovative approaches to peace-making and engagement with militant Islamic movements in Afghanistan and South Asia.  His interests include the political culture of the Afghan Taliban and kindred militant Islamic movements, the role and potential of dialogue and social media in conflict transformation and the challenge of pluralism in the post 9/11 Muslim world.

Professor Semple is also the host of the Podcast Series Taliban Turbans and The Smartphone.