Five Years of Taliban Rule: Education and Resistance in Afghanistan

Five years after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, the country is facing a period of significant change and instability. While the regime has maintained control since August 2021, it is now dealing with new military threats. According to Deutsche Welle (DW), the Taliban recently lost control of a district center in the northeastern province of Badakhshan. Although the loss was temporary, it was the first time the group had lost a district center since taking over the country. Reports from the region also indicate internal fighting among Taliban members and attacks on high-ranking officials.

Beyond these military challenges, various armed groups are continuing their resistance. Former Afghan army general Sami Sadat has ordered military operations against the Taliban, and the National Resistance Front remains active. Former Afghan Interior Minister Mohammad Umer Daudzai told DW that both political and military opposition have taken shape as the five-year mark approaches. Experts warn that the Taliban’s strict governing style could lead to more conflict, potentially opening the door for proxy wars—conflicts where outside countries use local groups to fight on their behalf.

While the security situation remains tense, the impact of Taliban rule on education has been equally severe. Afghanistan is currently the only country in the world where girls are officially banned from secondary and higher education. According to the BBC, the Taliban has barred girls over the age of 12 from school. Many women, who have been pushed out of most workplaces, say their lives have become unrecognizable. "Survival has become the priority," said Ela, a resident of Kabul, explaining that many people no longer have the energy to think about the future.

When asked about these restrictions, Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told the BBC that it is incorrect to say everything is banned for women. He claimed that three million girls are attending schools and madrassas, which are religious centers focused on Islamic teachings. However, the United Nations reports that only 7% of women in Afghanistan are employed, as they have been banned from many fields of study and work. For many young women, the loss of education feels like the loss of their dreams. Shakiba, who finished her secondary education online, told the BBC that her goal of becoming a pilot now feels impossible.

It is not only girls who are affected by the changing education system. NPR reports that boys are also facing a serious crisis. While boys are still allowed to attend school, the quality and content of their education have changed significantly. Interviews with students across the country suggest that schools are focusing less on science, mathematics, and languages like English, and much more on religious instruction. Teachers are now expected to include religious messages in almost every subject, and there is growing pressure for students to follow strict rules regarding their appearance, such as wearing traditional clothing.

Many students told NPR that the classroom no longer feels like a place of learning. Hashmat Mubariz, a 19-year-old who once attended a public school that taught science and literature, said that the atmosphere has shifted. He noted that many families now believe that modern, secular education—education not based on religion—will no longer lead to a future career. This shift is especially strong in southern provinces like Helmand and Kandahar, where religious studies were already a priority before the Taliban returned.

As the Taliban marks five years in power, the regime continues to claim that it has restored nationwide security. However, this claim is challenged by the rise of armed opposition and the ongoing activity of groups like the regional branch of the Islamic State. Furthermore, the regime remains largely unrecognized by the international community. As former acting Minister of Defense Shahmohammad Miakhel noted to DW, the current policies of the Taliban may create the very conditions that lead to more resistance and interference from neighboring countries.

For the people of Afghanistan, the future remains uncertain. Whether it is the young women who have been barred from classrooms or the young men who feel their education is no longer preparing them for the modern world, the daily reality is one of hardship. As the country moves past the five-year anniversary of the Taliban takeover, the gap between the regime's promises and the lived experiences of its citizens continues to grow.