Students walking home from a rural school. Photo Credit: Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times.

The armed forces of Western countries are leaving Afghanistan in September 2021. They leave behind a country, the future of which is unknown. Will the government the West supports remain in power? Will the Taliban take over? No one knows.

One group will suffer: Women. In the cities, women have made real gains since the U.S. with NATO drove the Taliban out of power. This came after the attack on the U.S. World Trade Center. The rural parts of Afghanistan remain in the hands of the Taliban.

Scenes like this still take place. Farzana Ahmadi watched as the Taliban flogged a neighbor in her village. The crime: Her face was uncovered.

Ms. Ahmadi recalled one Taliban member saying, “every woman should cover their eyes”. People watched as the beating dragged on. Another woman said, “All the time, women are the victims of men’s wars. But they will be the victims of their peace, too.”

The Taliban governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. It barred women and girls from taking most jobs or going to school. They were practically prisoners in their own homes.

The U.S. has spent millions to promote the rights of women in Afghanistan. Girls and women now make up about 40 percent of students. They have joined the . They . These are roles they could not hold at the turn of the century.

A woman said, “I remember when Americans came, and they said that they will not leave us alone. Afghanistan will be free of oppression. Women’s rights will be protected. Now it looks like it was just slogans.”

The Taliban believes in strict Islamic law. They are in power in the rural parts of the country.

About 2,500 U.S. troops and about 7,500 NATO forces are in Afghanistan. U.S. President Joe Biden now says U.S. and NATO forces are going to leave Afghanistan. The West could not win the war against the Taliban. People tired of the battle.

If the battle could not be won, it could still be lost. The U.S. is not the only player in the region. Pakistan is on a border with Afghanistan. It has been a haven for Taliban fighters. If Afghanistan falls into civil war, it could affect the countries surrounding it. Already there is fear that terrorist groups will move into Afghanistan to regroup. They still want to bring down the West.

The abandonment of Afghanistan does not solve any problems. It just starts a new chapter in the country’s history. One that will continue to be bad for women.

Source: The New York Times