Key facts
- Afghanistan's Taliban rulers are marking five years since regaining control of the country.
- Some residents report feeling safer but emphasize the need for job creation and expanded educational access.
- Girls above age 12 are banned from secondary and higher education under Taliban rule.
- The UN has noted increased stability but warned that restrictions on women impede recovery and international reintegration.
- UN Women stated Afghanistan faces the world's most severe women's rights crisis.
- A Taliban official highlighted security, currency stabilization, and infrastructure improvements as achievements.
As Afghanistan's Taliban rulers mark five years since their return to power on August 15, 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces, residents in Kabul express a mixed sentiment. While acknowledging a greater sense of safety compared to the preceding decades of conflict, many are urging the government to prioritize job creation and expand access to education, particularly for girls who are banned from secondary and higher learning.
Mohammad Qasim, a 30-year-old resident, stated, "Thank God, the past five years have passed in safety. Our wish and hope from the government is to create job opportunities for the youth." He added, "We, along with the entire nation, call upon the government to create employment opportunities for the youth and to encourage them to pursue education."
The Taliban's restrictions on women and girls have intensified since their takeover. Despite initial pledges, the group has banned girls and women from secondary and higher education, citing interpretations of Islamic law. Further restrictions have been placed on women's employment and their ability to travel without a male guardian.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) acknowledged that the country has become more stable but warned that lasting stability is contingent on the Taliban lifting restrictions on women and girls, protecting basic rights, and addressing terrorism concerns. UNAMA stated, "A reduction in conflict has brought tangible benefits for many Afghans and created opportunities to focus on recovery, development and regional economic cooperation." However, it also noted that these restrictions impede Afghanistan's recovery and its reintegration with the international community.
UN Women has described the situation as the world's most severe women's rights crisis, noting that Afghanistan is a global outlier with no parallel in the modern world. The agency highlighted that the exclusion of women and girls from education, employment, public life, justice systems, and healthcare has intensified over the past year.
Fazila Soroush, an entrepreneur and women's rights advocate, emphasized the need for a clear decision from the government regarding the closure of schools and universities. Meanwhile, preparations for the anniversary celebrations were visible in Kabul, with vendors selling Taliban flags and slogans praising Islamic law being painted on walls.
Molvi Hayatullah Mahajar Farahi, a deputy minister in the Taliban government, asserted that the administration has delivered security, stabilized the currency, improved infrastructure, and created jobs through industrial parks. He stated, "Naturally, challenges and difficulties exist, yet we can highlight several accomplishments." When questioned about education, he claimed that investment in universities surpasses past levels and that the Emirate is working to improve services in education and other sectors. Farahi dismissed UN reports of terrorist networks as "enemy propaganda" and insisted the Taliban government is engaged with approximately 40 countries, though only Russia formally recognizes their rule.
UNESCO reported that an estimated 2.4 million girls are now excluded from secondary education, a significant increase from the previous year, reversing two decades of progress. The agency also noted that 53% of primary school-aged children are out of school, with schools lacking basic infrastructure.