3 years of Taliban rule: What changed since US’ Afghanistan withdrawal?

“three years ago, a woman in Afghanistan could technically decide to run for president. Now, she may not even be able to decide when to go and buy groceries.”

IT’S NOW BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE THE U.S. WITHDREW FROM AFGHANISTAN.

EVER SINCE THEN – THE TALIBAN HAVE CONTROLLED THE COUNTRY.

SINCE THE TALIBAN REGAINED CONTROL –

WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN THE COUNTRY ARE PRACTICALLY NON-EXISTENT –

SO IS THE IDEA OF A FREE PRESS.

THE ECONOMY HAS DETERIORATED IN A DEEP-ROOTED RECESSION.

AND MORE THAN HALF THE PEOPLE REQUIRE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.

BUT THESE EXTREME CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTRY WERE NOT MENTIONED IN THE TALIBAN’S 3 YEAR RULE CELEBRATION.

THE TALIBAN HELD A MASSIVE PARADE – AT WHAT USED TO BE A U.S. AIR FORCE BASE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND AS ITS SOLDIERS MARCHED WITH MACHINE GUNS IN HAND –

ALSO BEING SHOWCASED WAS SOME OF THE U.S. MILITARY EQUIPMENT THAT WAS ABANDONED DURING THE CHAOTIC WITHDRAWAL –

INCLUDING HELICOPTERS, HUMVEES AND TANKS ON DISPLAY.

THE CROWD – 

WAS LARGE.

MORE THAN 10 THOUSAND MEN WERE IN ATTENDANCE –

WOMEN WERE BANNED FROM THE EVENT.

WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN ARE NOW BANISHED FROM ALMOST ALL AREAS OF PUBLIC LIFE –

IF THEY ARE SEEN OUTSIDE THE HOME – THEY HAVE TO BE ESCORTED BY A MALE.

GIRLS CAN NO LONGER GO TO SCHOOL BEYOND THE SIXTH GRADE AND BANNED FROM WORKING MOST JOBS.

WOMEN ALSO MUST WEAR FULL BODY CLOTHING SHOWING ONLY THEIR EYES.

A UNITED NATIONS ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN SAYS WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN A SHORT THREE YEAR SPAN – HAS ERASED ANY PROGRESS MADE.

“I’m not saying that three years ago it was perfect. It was not perfect. But it wasn’t this.” 

We cannot leave Afghan women to fight alone. If we do, we have no moral ground to fight for women’s rights anywhere else. Their fate determines the fate of women everywhere.”

BECAUSE AFGHANISTAN IS SUFFERING FROM SUCH A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS –

THE UNITED NATIONS HAS SENT 3.8 BILLION DOLLARS INTO THE COUNTRY IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.

THE UNITED STATES BEING ITS BIGGEST DONOR – 

3 BILLION OF IT COMING FROM THE U.S. ALONE.

BUT ACCORDING TO A U.S. WATCHDOG – MOST OF THAT MONEY IS “TAXED OR DIVERTED” BY THE TALIBAN MAKING IT HARD TO TRACK.

AND EVEN THOUGH ITS THE U.S. LENDING A FINANCIAL HAND –

OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS –

IT’S RUSSIA AND CHINA – U.S. ADVERSARIES – THAT THE TALIBAN HAS COZIED UP TO.

THE THING ABOUT THE TALIBAN CELEBRATING THEIR RULE –

IS NO OTHER COUNTRY RECOGNIZES THEM AS THE LEADING GOVERNMENT BODY IN AFGHANISTAN.

BUT RIGHT NOW – THERE’S NO OPPOSITION AND NO OUTSIDE SUPPORT FOR ONE.

AS WARS RAGE IN RUSSIA, UKRAINE, AND THE MIDDLE EAST –

THE WORLD HAS MORE IMMINENT PROBLEMS THAT IS KEEPING MUCH OF THE ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE TALIBAN AND THE PEOPLE UNDER ITS THUMB IN AFGHANISTAN.