Government of Afghanistan

The government of Afghanistan, officially called the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is the central government of Afghanistan. Under the leadership of the Taliban, the government is a unitary state, theocracy, and an emirate with political power concentrated in the hands of a supreme leader and his clerical advisors, collectively referred to as the Leadership. The Leadership makes all major policy decisions behind closed doors, which are then implemented by the country's civil service and judiciary. As Afghanistan is an Islamic state, governance is based on Sharia law, which the Taliban enforces through extensive social and cultural policies. The government primarily consists of four different councils, namely the Leadership Council, Ulema Council of Kandahar, National Ulema Council, and the Central Dar-il-Ifta.

Over its history, Afghanistan has variously been governed as a monarchy, a republic, and a theocracy. The current theocratic government came to power in 2021 with the United States-led coalition's withdrawal after a twenty-year insurgency against the Western-backed Islamic Republic, after having itself been ousted in 2001.

The current government is internationally unrecognized and lacks a clear constitutional basis, though the Taliban announced plans in January 2022 to form a constitutional commission. The government currently applies Sharia law. There is no separation of powers, with total authority vested in the Leadership. The government is criticized by international observers for totalitarianism, systemic human rights violations, as well as for being unaccountable, opaque, and exclusive of women, religious and ethnic minorities, and those with dissenting views. Since coming to power, it has grappled with terrorist attacks and natural disasters.