塔利班对伊斯兰教法进行了严格的解释，并由“弘扬美德，防止罪恶部”执行。In Kabul soldiers searched homes for evidence of cooperation with the former authorities or for violations of Taleban religious-based decrees, including depictions of living things (photographs, stuffed toys, etc.) Individuals were beaten on the streets by Taleban militia for what were deemed infractions of Taliban rules concerning dress, hair length, and facial hair, as well as for restriction on women being in the company of men. The Taleban required women to wear strict Islamic garb in public, and Taleban gender restrictions interfered with the delivery of humanitarian and medical assistance to women and girls. According to regulations, a man who shaved or cut his beard could be imprisoned until his beard grows back. Beards were to protrude farther than would a fist clamped at the base of the chin.
国家之间有效的分区由普什图和普什图武装控制地区,塔利班控制所有的主要的普什图地区(赫拉特和喀布尔),而普什图组织控制中亚共和国接壤的地区,其人口是民族普什图,如乌兹别克人、塔吉克人。
1997年10月，塔利班将这个国家改名为阿富汗伊斯兰酋长国，由毛拉·奥马尔(Mullah Omar)担任国家元首，他之前的宗教头衔是忠诚的埃米尔(Emir of the Faithful)。在喀布尔有一个由六人组成的统治委员会，但塔利班统治的最终权力属于位于南部城市坎大哈的塔利班内部协商会议和毛拉·奥马尔。