Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - The Taliban, who have fought for decades to create an Islamic political system, today realize how difficult it is to convince other Afghans and the international community to accept their understanding of Islam. The Taliban also concluded that their model of government in the 1990s does not hold up to scrutiny today.

When the Taliban seized territory throughout the IRA in the 1990s, the group founded the new Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, but they did not consult with almost any of the country’s various political and religious groups. The result was a style of government that, at gunpoint, imposed the norms and lifestyles of rural people in southern Afghanistan across the country. The imposition of a harsh lifestyle on the Afghans, the prohibition of women to work and education, and the disregard of the calls of the international community have turned the Taliban into international outcasts.

The establishment of an "Islamic system" of government is currently the main goal of the Taliban’s demands as they negotiate with Afghan officials and representatives of the political opposition. But the Taliban must clearly detail their views on the role of Islam in society and government. The country already has a Constitution that puts Islamic jurisprudence above all other laws. Afghan officials consider the nature of their system to be quite Islamic. Their focus in peace negotiations is on defending the gains of the past two decades, including women’s rights, freedom of expression and electoral democracy.

What is it about the IRA that the Taliban reject so violently? The Taliban view the Kabul government elite as secularists seeking to Westernize Afghan society. Instead, they view the active promotion of Islamic values and morals in society as one of the main functions of a "true Islamic government." They want religious leaders to play a more active role in politics and lawmaking.

Many Afghans fear the Taliban will return to their harsh rule of the late 1990s. However, there are hints in the ranks of the Taliban that they may be influenced by public opinion, which may allow them to make a compromise.

For example, the Taliban now allow girls to attend school in areas under their control, where there is a large "demand" from the population.

A compromise on the state structure will most likely require the development of a new Constitution for the country. President Ghani has already offered the Taliban the opportunity to amend the current Constitution, but only through the existing amendment procedures, which would give the government control over this process.

Important questions remain: Will the Taliban agree to hold the elections? Will they accept a coalition government? Taliban leaders note that they see religious authority at the pinnacle of the future Afghan government - if not as chief executive, then a body with powers to oversee the executive branch.

In fact, the Taliban’s positions and views stem from Afghan cultural norms as much as from Islamic doctrine, which influences them in both highly conservative and relatively progressive directions.

Unlike other modern jihadist groups, the Taliban are not fixated on literal interpretation of textual sources. Their movement arose from a combination of Islamic oral traditions and pre-Islamic cultural norms and does not have a single ideological document. In fact, the Taliban’s lack of a clear intellectual foundation has led some of their more radicalized youth to join rival factions such as IS in the IRA.

The absence of basic, rigid ideological texts could allow the Taliban to integrate into mainstream Afghan politics. In Afghanistan, many are deeply skeptical about the true change in AT and the prospects for future change. But there is no simpler way to test and develop these opportunities than political participation in the context of ongoing peace negotiations. If we want the protracted war in the IRA to finally end, then the new device in the IRA will need the support of the conservative elements of Afghan society.