5 years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan:Women lose freedom, press restrictions tighten, public flogging returns

Today marks five years since the Taliban seized control of Kabul. In those five years, Afghanistan’s landscape has changed dramatically. The Taliban have consolidated their grip over the country, while the economy has shown some signs of improvement. However, this has come at a heavy cost. Strict restrictions have been imposed on women’s rights, press freedom has been curtailed, and corporal punishment has once again become common. According to a Human Rights Watch report, courts ordered corporal punishment in at least 18 cases between August 2021 and November 2022, most involving so-called moral crimes. In December 2022, 27 people were publicly flogged before a crowd at a stadium in Parwan Province. While corporal punishment existed under previous Afghan governments, it has been imposed more openly and regularly under Taliban rule. August 15, 2021: Taliban seize Kabul The Taliban captured Kabul on August 15, 2021, bringing down the Afghan government within hours. Commercial flights were suspended, while thousands of people rushed to Kabul airport in an attempt to flee the country. At the time, the Taliban pledged to uphold women’s rights and grant amnesty to people who had worked with the US and the previous Afghan government. Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen also promised that people would face no threat to their property, lives or dignity. However, over the following five years, developments in Afghanistan proved to be starkly different from those assurances. Afghanistan becomes only country barring women from higher education Since returning to power, the Taliban has imposed a series of restrictions on women and girls. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls are formally barred from secondary schools and universities. According to the United Nations, the Taliban has issued more than 100 decrees affecting women since 2021. Restrictions have also been imposed on employment, travel and access to public spaces. A UN survey found that seven in ten Afghan women described their mental health as bad or very bad, while more than half said they leave their homes only once or twice a month. Nearly three-quarters reported feeling unsafe outside without a male guardian. Women account for just 7% of employment in Afghanistan, compared with 84% for men. Pressure on the press intensifies, journalists flee Afghanistan Journalism has also been severely affected under Taliban rule. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has listed Afghanistan as one of the most dangerous and difficult places in the world for journalists. Since 2021, many Afghan journalists have left the country. By 2025, the Taliban controlled about 15 major TV and radio stations, newspapers, and digital media outlets. Economy records growth despite ongoing challenges Despite international isolation and sanctions, Afghanistan’s economy has shown signs of recovery. According to the World Bank, Afghanistan’s real GDP grew by 4.8% in 2025, while domestic government revenue rose to 19.8% of GDP. However, economists say the benefits have not been widely shared. Per capita income remains below pre-2021 levels, inflation continues to affect households, and the country remains heavily dependent on imports. Limited banking access, electricity shortages, a large informal cash economy and reduced foreign aid continue to hamper development. Opium cultivation falls sharply One of the most significant changes under Taliban rule has been the sharp decline in opium production. Afghanistan was the world’s largest producer of opium when the Taliban returned to power, accounting for roughly 80% of global supply in 2022, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). After the Taliban banned poppy cultivation in April 2022, opium production dropped dramatically. A UNODC survey found that poppy cultivation declined by 95% in 2023, marking one of the most significant reductions in the country’s narcotics industry in decades. As Afghanistan marks five years under Taliban rule, the country remains caught between economic recovery efforts and growing international concern over human rights, media freedom and the status of women. Russia recognizes Taliban government Russia has become the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan. However, the Taliban says it is in contact with around 40 countries and has fulfilled the conditions required for wider international recognition. India has also strengthened its engagement with Kabul without formally recognising the Taliban government. In October 2025, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India, marking the first visit by a senior Taliban government official to the country. China and the UAE have also accepted ambassadors appointed by the Taliban, although neither country has formally recognised the Taliban government. ​