Time to turn the tide
By Famke Akerboom
Afghanistan: a turbulent history
Afghanistan has had an unstable history. From the civil war in 1978, to the war between Afghanistan and America, to the rise of the Taliban. Today, women and girls no longer have basic rights, the economy is in deep crisis, and more than 60% of the inhabitants live in poverty. How did it come to this? Is there still hope for the oppressed inhabitants of the Asian country?
The rise of the Taliban
Before the 20th century, Afghanistan was in a relatively stable situation. This changed in April 1978 when the DVPA came to power through a coup. This change of power led to conflict between the modernists and traditionalists in Afghanistan, culminating in Soviet intervention in 1979. The soldiers of the Soviet Union withdraw in 1989 and the world is introduced to the Taliban.
The Taliban conquered Kabul and controlled most of the country. They established an Islamic emirate. This led to radical reforms in Afghanistan. Women are banned from society and have to dress in burkas. Music, sports, television and contemporary education are not allowed, and offenders are publicly punished in brutal ways, such as decapitation or amputation of limbs.
After Sept. 11, 2001, an international coalition (including France and the United Kingdom) led by the U.S. invaded the country and expelled the Taliban. The situation seemed to improve temporarily, but with the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2021, the Taliban returned to power at breakneck speed. By August 2021, they completely controlled the country. A nightmare for the population.
Legislation and repression
Today, the Taliban impose an extremist interpretation of sharia law: the religious doctrine of duties of the Islamic faith. The word “sharia” means the way or path, and is often referred to as the path to (spiritual) salvation. However, the oppression of women is not solely due to sharia. In addition to sharia law, the customary law of Afghan and Pakistani people, the Pasthun, also plays an important role. In the pashtunwali, women’s rights are severely restricted.
The combination of Sharia law and the pashtunwali has led to radical restrictions: the ban on education for girls, women are no longer allowed to go out alone and must cover their faces completely. Since August 2024, women are not even allowed to use their voices in public. These laws affect not only women, but men as well; fathers, brothers and sons are increasingly suffering under the country’s deteriorating conditions.
International response
The wars against the Taliban involve unconventional warfare. This is also called guerrilla warfare. This warfare includes surprise attacks, ambushes and hit-and-run operations to weaken and eliminate the enemy. These tactics make it almost impossible to completely eliminate the Taliban and drive them out for good. Therefore, the international community is trying to deal with the regime through diplomatic and economic routes. In addition to diplomatic and economic directions, international organizations try to provide victim assistance. But if the region becomes unlivable for aid workers, they will also withdraw at some point.
Sanctions, such as freezing Afghan assets in international banks or restrictions on travel, have hit the country hard economically. In September 2024, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia and Germany took Afghanistan to court for violating the U.N. Convention on Women’s Rights, signed in 2003. However, this treaty was ratified before the Taliban were in power, so whether the Taliban will care about the claim is uncertain. On the other hand, any country, including the Taliban regime, needs diplomatic relations. Breaking these relations may be a strategy to force the Taliban to comply with international demands. Another way things might change in the country is an insurgency from within. However, there is no guarantee of this either.
Conclusion
The rise of the Taliban has drastically changed life in Afghanistan. Much has changed since taking power in 2021, women’s rights have been curtailed and the economy is facing a major abyss. The international community is trying to control the Taliban in such a way that they follow the set demands and make conditions more pleasant for the civilians, yet they have not succeeded so far. Despite international inaction, the oppressed residents are trying to keep their spirits up and hope for positive change.
Photo: Sinitta Leunen via unsplash
