Afghanistan’s dual reality: Progress in peace, but at what cost to women?

Afghanistan has been a land historically sought after by conquerors like Alexander the Great, the Persians, Mongols, British, Russians, and Americans—yet none succeeded in truly subjugating it.

Since the withdrawal of U.S. forces in August 2021, the Taliban have established strong governance under their "Islamic Emirate", working to improve their global image by combating terrorism, crime, and drug production.

Afghanistan has now made remarkable progress toward becoming terrorism-free, crime-free, and drug-free. However, this progress has come at the expense of women's and girls' rights, drawing widespread criticism globally.

The Taliban's significant success lies in controlling opium cultivation. According to the BBC, the U.S. spent $9 billion over 20 years to eradicate Afghanistan's poppy fields, yet Afghanistan remained the largest producer of illegal poppies.

Before the U.S. withdrawal, the country supplied 85% of the world's opium. Despite their earlier reliance on drug smuggling to fund operations, the Taliban have now taken a firm stand against opium cultivation.

In April 2022, the Taliban's supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, banned poppy cultivation and enforced the ban rigorously. Fields of standing poppy crops were destroyed, and the ban led to a dramatic 95% reduction in cultivation in 2023, according to German media outlet DW.

Helmand province, previously the epicenter of opium production, saw a 99% decrease in cultivation, as per satellite analysis by British company ALCIS.

The crackdown on drugs has significantly impacted Afghanistan's economy. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime reports that farmers' incomes from opium sales dropped from $1.36 billion in 2022 to just $110 million in 2023.

Another major achievement of the Taliban is the reduction of crime. The enforcement of strict Sharia laws and centralized security measures have led to a significant decline in incidents of violence, bombings, and clashes. According to the International Crisis Group, violent incidents in Afghanistan have decreased by 500% since the Taliban took power.

Similarly, the Global Terrorism Index by the Institute for Economics and Peace notes an 81% decline in terrorism-related deaths in 2023. For the first time, Afghanistan was no longer the most terrorism-affected country, recording only 119 deaths compared to an annual average of 519 in previous years.

Despite these achievements, the Taliban's treatment of women remains a black mark on their governance. Women and girls face severe restrictions, including bans on secondary and higher education, public appearances, and working with men. According to UNESCO, 2.5 million school-aged girls are deprived of education, and the female workforce in cities has dropped to below 5%, compared to over 20% before the Taliban's return.

Reports from Human Rights Watch and other organizations highlight the grave impact of these restrictions, including increased child labor and early marriages. Protests by Afghan women and widespread international condemnation continue to call attention to this issue.

While the Taliban have demonstrated remarkable progress in eradicating drugs, terrorism, and crime, one cannot overlook their glaring failure to address the basic rights of women. If the Taliban can extend the same effort toward ensuring women's rights as they have toward combating societal vices, Afghanistan could achieve truly holistic progress.