Postcolonial Reflections on Political Instability and Human Rights in Afghanistan

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of political instability on human rights in Afghanistan, where decades of conflict, regime changes, and foreign interventions have entrenched systemic violations. Using a postcolonial framework, it analyzes how colonial legacies, global geopolitical agendas, and internal dynamics such as ethnic divisions, tribal politics, and insurgent movements intersect to perpetuate cycles of instability that disproportionately harm women, minorities, and children. The study argues that a postcolonial lens is essential to understanding the structural conditions undermining governance and human rights protection in Afghanistan. It concludes by calling for international strategies that prioritize local agency, inclusive governance, and human rights as prerequisites for sustainable peace and development.