The Failed Promise of Diplomatic Engagement: A Wake-Up Call on Taliban's Gender Repression

The Dire State of Women's Rights in Afghanistan

Last weekend, on the international day of education, UN agencies sounded the alarm on a situation that has been neglected for far too long—a situation that is alarming, downright tragic. It has been over four years since the Taliban government in Afghanistan instituted a ban on girls attending secondary education, a move that has only worsened, with recent decrees extending this ban to higher education as well.

The United Nations' characterization of this systemic oppression as "gender apartheid" reflects not only a chilling reality but also a distressing indictment of our collective inaction. Currently, 2.2 million girls are forcibly denied access to the classroom, a devastating consequence of the Taliban's brutal regime.

“The waves of repression should be classified as a crime against humanity.”

This isn't merely about education; it's about survival. The Taliban's ongoing strategy under supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada aims to eliminate the presence of women in public life entirely. This strategic exclusion underscores a broader ideology—one that is both deeply entrenched and dangerously realized.

Geopolitical Miscalculations

Foreign governments, in their eagerness to rebuild diplomatic relationships with a regime that openly executes gender-based repression, appear to be turning a blind eye to these grave violations. They seem to believe that normalization can be achieved despite evidence to the contrary. In fact, the recent shifts in diplomatic stance from various nations such as Russia, China, and India have only emboldened the Taliban's egregious actions. This trend exposes a fundamental miscalculation: that diplomacy can outweigh humanitarian obligation.

Four and a half years into the Taliban's rule, conditions for women have deteriorated, with more girls being denied education than ever before. The stark reality is that appeasement has failed, yet it continues to be the prevailing strategy among major powers.

A Deepening Crisis

The illegal actions of the Taliban seem to have created an environment wherein even the most basic rights are stripped away from women. In successive edicts since their rise to power in 2021, women have faced bans from universities, employment opportunities—both in the government and NGOs—and are required to cover their faces in public. Women traveling long distances must be accompanied by male guardians and are met with threats of jail time if found in parks, gyms, or beauty salons.

How much longer can we remain apathetic? The situation reached a new low in December 2025 with the arrest of female journalist Nazira Rashidi in Kunduz for simply doing her job. More shockingly, young women assertively protesting for their rights, like Khadija Ahmadzada, were imprisoned merely for running a gym that offered women a space to engage in sports.

The Perverse Reality of International Relations

As foreign governments pursue diplomatic engagement, they inadvertently legitimize a regime that continues to target women and girls systematically. This has placed Afghans' rulers in a state of impunity. It is almost as if the Taliban has interpreted these gestures as tacit approval for their oppressive measures.

December 2025 saw an ice-cold reminder of this double standard: Richard Bennett, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, highlighted the deteriorating conditions of women and predicted that the Taliban's new criminal procedure code would lead to even more violations.

The Internal Divisions within the Taliban

The consolidation of power by Akhundzada has resulted in significant shifts within the Taliban structure itself. Important government functions are being redirected, leaving the Kabul-based faction scrambling for relevance. This ideological battle has produced troubling consequences and demonstrated the fragility of their regime's stability.

Even factions within the Taliban concede that women's participation is essential for economic survival. Yet Akhundzada's worldview is so rigid and archaic that he remains immovable. He is tied to an ideology that casts women not as active contributors but as mere symbols of oppression.

The Role of the Global Community

Internationally, the notion of gender apartheid is becoming increasingly pressing. The UN's sixth committee has already advanced propositions for a global treaty targeting the denial of girls' and women's rights as crimes against humanity.

The international community's conversation around gender-based persecution has elevated the urgency for direct action. Warranting arrest for senior Taliban members for gender-based crimes is a step forward, but the jihad these women are fighting requires our collective strength as advocates for justice.

“This cannot be an issue confined to the walls of our parliaments or the halls of diplomacy.”

Hope Amid Despair

Despite this bleak scenario, pockets of hope persist. Underground education initiatives thrive, particularly in areas like the Panjshir valley, where women receive clandestine education through community radio broadcasts. Additionally, some young women have defied the odds by attending schooling abroad, tearing down barriers that seek to misdefine their futures.

Failure to educate girls and allow women to contribute economically is a fundamental miscalculation. The Taliban's refusal to empower half the population is not just their problem; if we remain complacent, it will become ours too.

• The stakes are too high; the implications for global stability are dire.

As a collective, we cannot afford to look away. The future of millions rests in the balance, and our silence contributes to the oppression. We owe it to the young girls of Afghanistan to fight for their rights, to insist on accountability, and to demand that the global community re-evaluates its tactics toward this brutal regime.