Five years have passed since the Taliban regained control of Kabul, a period marked by dramatic shifts in Afghan society, governance, and the daily lives of its people. The fall of Kabul on August 15, 2021, followed the collapse of the Western-backed Afghan Republic government and the withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces after a 20-year military engagement. The cost of that conflict for the U.S. alone was estimated by Brown University to be more than $2 trillion, with daily expenditures exceeding $300 million over two decades.
Kabul today presents a stark contrast to its pre-Taliban era. The city's landscape is now patrolled by armed Taliban fighters, and the sounds of music, banned along with TV dramas and films, have been replaced by the five daily calls to prayer. Former American-fortified compounds are now occupied by the regime they were built to repel, and the abandoned U.S. Embassy stands as a symbol of the past conflict. State-sanctioned graffiti in Public Health Square proclaims the achievement of an "Islamic system" and a commitment to "divine Sharia law."
Within the Ministry of Information and Culture, the Deputy Minister for Publications, Muhajer Farahi, described his role as overseeing the vetting of books based on "Islamic law, national interest and our culture." He views this censorship as a necessary defense against ideological threats from the West, asserting that while the U.S. had superior weapons and money, the Taliban possessed the more potent forces of faith and popular support. "The civilian population was with us. They provided us with everything," Farahi stated, viewing the 2021 takeover as a divine vindication.
The economic situation in Afghanistan remains precarious. While some residents note increased peace and safety, particularly the ability to move freely after dark, others report widespread job losses and economic hardship. The UN estimates that approximately 28 million people, or about half the country's population, are living in poverty, exacerbated by chronic drought and diminishing international aid. The Ministry of Health spokesman, Dr. Sharafat Zaman Amar, attributed suffering to Western sanctions and emphasized the need for aid to be separated from politics. He noted an increase in malnutrition treatment sites under Taliban rule, from around 800 to 3,200, with an additional 1,000 staff.
Efforts to combat drug use have been a focus for the regime. Following a ban on narcotics by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada in 2022, poppy cultivation reportedly decreased by 95 percent. However, synthetic drugs like methamphetamine remain a problem, with a 49-year-old meth addict at the "1,000 Beds Drug Rehabilitation Clinic" expressing defiance, calling the Taliban a "mafia" for his involuntary detention.
Restrictions on Women
The lives of women have been profoundly impacted since the Taliban's return to power. In September 2021, girls were excluded from secondary education, a ban later made permanent. By December 2021, women were required to have a male relative present for long-distance travel. In May 2022, a directive mandated women cover themselves from head to toe, ideally by remaining at home. Subsequent restrictions have barred women from parks, gyms, and university education.
One woman, identified as Amira, described life as "permanently in quarantine" and expressed fear for her future if her male relative leaves the country. She stated that other ethnic groups appear incapable of challenging the Pashtun-dominated Taliban, suggesting the regime's hold is presently secure.
The country also faces ongoing human rights concerns. UN investigators have documented extensive torture of detainees, including suffocation and electric shocks. Amnesty International has reported instances of "tooth and nail extraction" and waterboarding. In March, UN human rights experts reported over 1,110 public floggings in the previous year alone.
Despite these challenges, some Afghans express a sense of restored order. A baker noted that while jobs are fewer, the peace allows for greater freedom of movement than in previous years. This sentiment is echoed by some who recall increased danger from groups like the Islamic State prior to the Taliban's consolidation of power. However, this order is maintained within a climate of fear, with strict enforcement of social codes by the "virtue and vice" police.