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Five years after the Taliban won, Afghanistan is still losing
CNN • • world
Key Points:
- Five years after the US withdrawal and Taliban takeover, Afghanistan faces one of the world’s worst humanitarian and human rights crises, with nearly half the population needing aid and severe restrictions imposed on women and girls.
- International humanitarian funding has dropped nearly 70% since 2022, with the US no longer a top donor, exacerbating food insecurity, malnutrition among children, and the collapse of health services.
- The Taliban has enforced harsh gender-based restrictions, including banning girls from education beyond sixth grade, restricting women’s mobility and employment, and legalizing domestic violence and child marriage.
- Economic collapse and the Taliban’s 2022 ban on opium cultivation have devastated rural incomes, while frozen international assets and reduced aid have crippled public services and deepened poverty.
- Despite ongoing instability and the presence of extremist groups, some countries like Russia and China have engaged with the Taliban government, while the US has scaled back pressure, raising concerns about the future of Afghan rights and international credibility.
