Five years on, how will Taliban deal with armed opposition?

Taliban leaders gathered in Kabul to celebrate five years in power following the U.S. withdrawal in August 2021. They claimed to have brought stability and ended conflict. However, a United Nations official warned of a severe human rights crisis, particularly for women and girls, who are denied education beyond the sixth grade and face numerous other restrictions. These include bans on attending parks, gyms, and traveling without a male guardian. The Taliban government remains internationally isolated, with only Russia formally recognizing it. The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan described the situation as "gender persecution" and a broader crisis encompassing arbitrary arrests, torture, and restrictions on freedoms.

Regional and international powers are increasing diplomatic engagement with the Taliban in Afghanistan, despite the regime's systematic human rights abuses. Countries including India, Qatar, China, Iran, Central Asian states, and Russia are renewing ties or scaling up contacts. This engagement, driven by regional security concerns and immigration pressures, is feared by campaigners to undermine consistent demands for human rights improvements. The UN has described Afghanistan as a "graveyard for human rights," citing bans on women's education and employment, and repression of minorities, activists, and journalists. While some see engagement as necessary for humanitarian aid and pragmatic reasons, others worry it grants legitimacy to the Taliban without demanding real progress on human rights.

UN Women warns that over half of women's organizations in Afghanistan may cease operations within the next year due to funding shortages, five years after the Taliban regained power. Susan Ferguson, UN Women's special representative, appealed to donor countries to maintain funding for women's programs, highlighting that nearly three-quarters of these organizations experienced cuts in 2025 and many have less than six months of operational funding remaining. This warning comes as the Taliban celebrates its fifth anniversary in power, a period marked by over 100 decrees restricting women's rights. The UN's broader humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan is also significantly underfunded.

Five years after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, women report their lives are drastically altered. Since 2021, the Taliban has implemented restrictions impacting women and girls, including barring access to education for those over 12 and requiring male chaperones for travel. These measures have led to widespread hardship, with women prioritizing survival over education and future aspirations due to poverty and daily struggles. The Taliban's foreign minister has stated that women are not entirely restricted, but the article indicates the constraints affect nearly all aspects of their lives. Many women interviewed by the BBC spoke anonymously due to fear of reprisal.

Five years after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, the West's influence is questioned as engagement strategies appear ineffective. Despite international sanctions and a severe humanitarian crisis, the Taliban has consolidated power, with women increasingly excluded from public life and education. While some advocate for continued engagement due to Afghanistan's reliance on aid, others note the Taliban's growing de facto recognition through diplomatic and economic ties with countries like China and Russia. The Taliban seeks closer diplomatic relations, while the West remains divided on how best to achieve meaningful change, particularly regarding women's rights.

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers are marking five years in power, a period where some residents report increased safety but also express a strong desire for job creation and expanded educational opportunities. The Taliban regained control in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops. While the United Nations acknowledges improved stability, it warns that lasting peace is contingent on lifting restrictions on women and girls, who are banned from secondary and higher education and face limitations on employment and travel. The Taliban government claims to have delivered security, stabilized the currency, and improved infrastructure, creating jobs. However, UN agencies highlight a worsening educational crisis, with millions of girls excluded from school, and a severe women's rights crisis.