Five years into Taliban rule, Afghanistan faces economic strain and severe curbs on women
Afghanistan's Taliban government marked five years in power on Saturday amid economic hardship and what the UN calls the world's most severe restrictions on women, even as officials tout improved security and infrastructure.
Five years after Taliban fighters entered Kabul unopposed, the authorities marked the anniversary on Saturday with sports events, convoys of vehicles left behind by foreign forces, and new murals proclaiming independence and dignity. Residents drove flag-decorated rickshaws and motorbikes through the capital as supporters gathered to mark the occasion.
Some young Afghans and entrepreneurs credit the government with restoring security and building infrastructure, though many say the lack of jobs remains the biggest challenge facing youth. Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the authorities were still laying the "foundations of the economy" and that patience was needed. GDP per capita has been declining, partly because more than six million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan over the past three years, even as the World Bank projects real growth of up to 4.8 percent.
Women bear the brunt
Women have been hit hardest by Taliban policies, barred from most jobs and public places such as parks, with girls' education outlawed beyond age 12. UN Women said this week that Afghan women and girls live under the world's most severe restrictions, warning that the exclusion from education, employment, justice and healthcare has only deepened over the past year, threatening the country's social and economic future.
While the UN acknowledges the country has grown more stable, it warns that lasting stability requires the Taliban to lift restrictions on women and girls, uphold basic rights and address terrorism concerns. The Taliban government remains formally recognised only by Russia, despite building informal ties with other countries, including in Europe. Relations with neighbouring Pakistan have deteriorated sharply this year, escalating into conflict and deepening a humanitarian crisis already worsened by cuts to international aid. Press freedom advocates have also condemned the authorities for harassing, detaining and censoring journalists.
