On June 4, the Trump administration announced a travel ban targeting 19 countries. Seven of these countries — including Venezuela and Cuba — will be under a partial ban, while the other 12 countries — including Iran and Afghanistan — will be under a total travel ban. According to the presidential proclamation, a primary reason for this travel ban is the threat of terrorism.

While each of the countries included in this ban warrants scrutiny, particular attention should be paid to Afghanistan. Its inclusion on a list of countries that the administration says pose terrorist threats to the United States is a departure from how the administration has previously — and recently — positioned the Taliban. Three elements serve as a starting point for such scrutiny.

First, the inclusion of Afghan

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