THEREPERCUSSIONSOFTALIBANRULE INAFGHANISTAN

By Raya Gupta '25

When the Taliban marched back into Kabul on August 15 2021, the world feared the worst for Afghanistan, a country that has faced years of turbulence, violence and humanitarian problems from sources both outside and within Since then, ‘the worst’ has been given new meaning by the unabated tide of renewed repression, economic problems and revoked rights

The Taliban has no tolerance for opposing opinions. More than 200 news organizations have closed due to Taliban intimidation and countless reporters have faced harassment under the new regime Women have been banned from going to parks or gyms, and require male accompaniment when traveling long distances.

Most recently women were banned from working in NGOs, causing some organizations; including Save the Children, CARE and the Norwegian Refugee Council, to cease activities due to a simple inability to carry out certain tasks without women workers

The UN Development Program has estimated that restricting women’s employment could cost up to 5 percent of Afghanistan’s GDP – a loss that Afghanistan can’t afford

With large denominations of international aid frozen, the Afghan economy is in free-fall. More than 90% of the population suffers from some form of food insecurity It is not only fundamental human rights at stake, but human lives

Once vibrant shopping areas are now deserted and desolate.

The Taliban closed girls secondary schools immediately, and most of them have kept their doors shut The situation is even more restrictive at university level, where women are prohibited from studying and teaching, putting an end to many dreams and careers. Most women have also been banished from the work-place, especially in government and law sectors A large number of female judges were forced into hiding, facing reprisals from freed gender or domestic abuse offenders they had convicted.

The situation is grim for everyone in Afghanistan, regardless of gender, however, conservative attitudes towards women makes their lives much harder Women in Afghanistan are unable to work or educate themselves That is, unless they want to be a doctor. In that case the Taliban (on a rare occasion) is advocating for their education and employment. Due to the strict interpretation of Sharia law that the Taliban follow, hospital services must be gender segregated, which means that for female patients to receive care, there must be female doctors.

While this is great for female medical practitioners and students, this law carries the risk that women will not be able to find medical care, especially because certain restrictions imposed on women in the educational sector limit the number of women who will be able to graduate and other restrictive policies prevent women from working effectively. Afghanistan’s healthcare system is fragile as everything else in the country after being dependent on foreign aid for so long, and there is a dearth of doctors: both male and female. A number of hospitals have closed and doctors have fled the country; it is UN funding that is keeping the system afloat Maternal mortality rate still remains among the highest in the world.

The retreat of foreign troops and the reinstatement of Taliban rule has had one positive aspect for the Afghan people: with no one to oppose the Taliban, violence has been drastically reduced. The overall security situation of the country has improved with civilian casualties lessened. That is not to say that conflict has completely ceased Terrorists have carried out various vicious attacks including a suicide bombing of a mosque in Kabul which killed over 20 people. In almost every aspect, the Taliban government is failing to provide citizens with what they need: safety, political and economic stability, and protection of unalienable rights