Analysis

Four years into the Taliban’s renewed grip on Afghanistan, girls’ schools remain closed, locking students out of education. What started as a temporary ban has morphed into one of the world’s longest and most sweeping educational restrictions. While millions of children globally return to school with hope each year, Afghan girls are still denied this basic right.  

The Taliban have once again insisted they’re committed to women’s rights. On International Women’s Day, March 8, spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid posted on X that the group is dedicated to “upholding women’s chastity, dignity, and Sharia rights,” adding that “Afghan women live in physical and mental security.”  

This year’s Ramadan has begun in Afghanistan at a time when millions of people face serious challenges in meeting their basic needs. Rising food prices, the closure of the Torkham crossing, and a reduction in humanitarian aid have made living conditions even more difficult for the population.

Throughout history, totalitarian regimes have sought to control knowledge and suppress awareness, recognizing that an informed society is the greatest threat to their survival. The Taliban, one of the most regressive and ideologically driven groups ruling Afghanistan, have demonstrated this through their bans on women’s education and the widespread suppression of academic institutions.

Former Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, following Afghanistan’s national cricket team’s victory in the ICC Champions Trophy tournament, released a message describing the win as a symbol of Afghan resilience and hope. He specifically highlighted Afghanistan’s historic victory against England, calling it the result of the national team’s determination, commitment, and aspirations.

While the Taliban continue to alienate the Afghan people with their hardline policies, certain media outlets still portray scattered and lackluster gatherings of exiled groups as the “opposition to the Taliban”, as if these few familiar faces were the sole embodiment of a nation’s collective anger and defiance.

The fifth round of the Vienna talks for a “Democratic Afghanistan” was held amid a deep political, security, and economic crisis in the country, with no signs of significant change in the prevailing situation. The organizers of the event claim that today’s meeting was attended by more than 90 representatives from various political groups and resistance fronts.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Washington, D.C., today at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump. The visit, scheduled for February 12-13, marks the first official meeting between the two leaders in Trump’s second term. Key topics on the agenda include trade, defense cooperation, regional security, and migration.

As ISIS carried out one of its deadliest attacks in Kunduz city on Tuesday, killing dozens of Taliban members, the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry continues to claim that the terrorist group has been eliminated in Afghanistan and no longer has the ability to conduct military operations. These statements appear to be a response to Pakistani officials, who have once again raised concerns over terrorist activities in Afghanistan.

Three years after the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, the regime is now facing a combination of domestic and international challenges, signaling that the foundations of their governance may be crumbling. While the Taliban initially sought to project an image of stability, a series of political, economic, security, and social crises reveal that the group is grappling with deep-rooted difficulties.