Silenced by Taliban and Debated by the NSAs, a Sordid Tale of Afghan Women

Rutba Iqbal / Awaz e Khwateen

Thousands of lives lost, many rendered homeless and many more left to fend for themselves. This is the story of countless Afghans. The 2021 Fragile States Index claimed that Afghanistan was one of the most unstable countries in the world. Not just this, the country is also at the highest risk of terrorism worldwide according to the Global Terrorism Index of 2020. 

Afghanistan's history has long been mired in political conflict and turmoil. The United States' invasion of Afghanistan, the so-called ‘war on terror’, ended in August 2021 as Taliban re-established their rule over the country. This takeover shocked the world. Interestingly, this was not unprecedented as the Central Afghan Government never held control over the majority of the 408 districts in the country.

As the chaos unfolded and the Taliban began strengthening their grip over the country, critics questioned the Taliban government’s legitimacy and their extremist history. The group responded with claims of reformation, promising a moderate approach. During their last stint which lasted from 1996 to 2001, Taliban banned almost all education for women and girls, confined women to their homes unless they were escorted by a Muharram, a male family member and restricted them from performing even the most basic of activities.

When the Taliban took control in August of 2021, it didn’t take long for the facade to fade away. Reports of closure of schools and women being forced to leave their jobs emerged. With headlines like “Afghan women forced from banking jobs as Taliban take control” and “Taliban bans women from sports' making rounds, the inevitable questions about women’s rights and inclusivity under Taliban are being raised by the International community.

Historically, the situation of women in Afghanistan has long been dire. Amnesty International says that 87% of Afghan women are illiterate, while 70-80 percent face forced marriage. 1 in 3 girls are married before they reach the age of 18. Time and again, researchers have pointed out the obvious: The future of Afghan women and their safety has always been hanging on the developments in the battlefield.

The situation is complicated by the fact that Afghan women face not only political violence, but are also victims of domestic violence. In a 2015 study published by Global Citizen, researchers found that 46.1% of women in the country aged 15-49 said they had been subject to physical or sexual violence by a current or former intimate partner within the previous year.

The conflict has forced millions of Afghans to leave their soil behind and live as refugees in other countries. There is no reliable data on the number of undocumented Afghans in India but, as of 2017, there are more than 12,300 Afghan refugees and asylum seekers registered in India with UNHCR. Many from the displaced community have found shelter in India's capital, Delhi, and have made the city their home. 

Awaz-e-Khwateen, a Delhi based NGO, reached out to the refugee community to provide them with a platform to air their grievances and raise their issues.

It was in this spirit that a protest was organized in Delhi by the Afghan Women’s Refugee Association in collaboration with Awaz-e-Khwateen to shake the world from this stupor. On 30 October 2021, a group of 400 Afghan women and teenagers gathered at Jantar Mantar protesting the violence on women in Afghanistan. The protest was a clear message of resistance against oppression and that women weren't afraid to speak up against the new regime.

In a sea of Afghans, one woman stood apart. Her name was Khatera Hashmi, a police officer from Ghazni, who was reportedly attacked by the Taliban. As she recounted her experiences to AeK, it became apparent that women were fighting the dual battle against the new existing social order and a new regime which pushed them further into the margins and a spiral of persecution.

As women gathered, their message was clear. They wanted the world to listen to their voice. The Government of India also responded in a positive fashion. Recent developments show the Indian government is taking cognizance of the unstable situation in Afghanistan. Earlier on November 10, India hosted a NSA-level Afghanistan meeting which was chaired by National Security Advisor(NSA) Ajit Doval. The NSAs of 8 countries attended the meeting, discussing the evolving situation in Afghanistan.  The members expressed deep concern over the current political situation in Afghanistan. India came forward, reiterating that humanitarian aid should be provided in a non-discriminatory manner across all strata of the Afghan society. This move by the Indian government has raised the hopes of the Afghan Refugee community. Speaking to Awaz-e-Khwateen, Pakeezah Shahbzai from the Afghan refugee community, said her community feels seen after this meeting as it has brought attention to the plight of Afghan people and has given a semblance of hope to her community. Pakistan refused to attend the meeting, despite its prolonged involvement in the affairs of Afghanistan. Members of the Afghan refugee community questioned Pakistan’s absence. While the discussions continue, Afghans have been left to fend for themselves, with no food security and women relegated to the margins.

As the political situation in Afghanistan continues to hang by a thread, the only way forward is to listen to the raw and unfiltered voices of Afghan people. As the country continues to loom under threats from the new regime, it is imperative to provide them with a platform, so we record history and document the country's predicament going forward.

(Rutba Iqbal is associated with Awaz-e-Khawateen, a Delhi based NGO working for education and empowerment of women. She studies English Literature from Jamia Millia Islamia.)