‘We are still here’: a day in the life of 12 Afghan women

Afghan Women’s Resilience: Five Years Under Taliban Rule

Wanderstayfinder.com – Half a decade has passed since the Taliban reasserted control over Afghanistan, and the consequences for women and girls continue to deepen. The regime’s consolidation of power has brought sweeping restrictions that touch nearly every aspect of daily life. Educational opportunities have been severely curtailed, with girls prohibited from attending school beyond the age of twelve. Professional women have been systematically removed from their workplaces, while new legal mechanisms have legitimized practices such as child marriage and domestic discipline.

The enforcement apparatus has grown increasingly visible. Women face public whipping for relatively minor violations of dress and behavior codes. Officials charged with monitoring vice and morality conduct relentless inspections of households. Men within families have been transformed into enforcers, tasked with ensuring compliance within their own homes. Even digital spaces have not escaped scrutiny, as smartphone restrictions and internet limitations have multiplied in recent months.

Parasto: A Soldier’s Story from Herat

Parasto*, a former soldier from Herat province, describes mornings defined by quiet reflection and lingering memories of service. She wakes to the stillness of dawn, feeling as though her weapon remains in her hands. Each day begins with a personal vow: if her husband returns home unharmed, she will offer deeper gratitude to God.

For six years I served here as a soldier. Within a few days of taking the city, the first thing the Taliban did to me and my female colleagues was hold a meeting and demand that we hand over our uniforms.

The removal of her uniform represented more than the loss of clothing—it symbolized the erasure of her identity and purpose. Parasto and her husband both served under the previous administration, making them targets for Taliban scrutiny. Her husband has been summoned multiple times to answer questions about casualties on both sides. Death threats have arrived through phone calls and messages, and the fear remains palpable.

Many of Parasto’s female colleagues fled during the early days of Taliban rule. Two women were arrested, and their whereabouts remain unknown. Parasto recalls their attempted escape to Iran, where border guards turned them back. Even now, their bags stay packed, ready for another possible departure.

Her daily routine centers on household responsibilities. She rises early, prepares breakfast, and sees her children off to school and her husband on his search for work. She stands at the gate until they leave, then draws the curtains to shield her home from outside eyes. The afternoons pass in solitude, sometimes broken by sewing—threading needles and stitching fabric to fill the hours.

I had so many dreams of serving this country more, but the times do not allow me to. I still dream that I am wearing my uniform and going to duty.

The Undercover Journalist in the Northern Provinces

In Afghanistan’s northern provinces, another woman navigates life under constant surveillance. Working as an undercover journalist under an alias, she lives with perpetual anxiety about discovery. Every knock on her gate triggers panic, prompting her to conceal her laptop beneath the mattress where it stores sensitive material.

Her workspace is modest—a twelve-square-metre room containing a small desk, mobile phone, and laptop. Coffee serves as her daily ritual and comfort. Each morning, she checks Afghan news headlines and reviews assignments in her pseudonymous email account.

I have already lived through two house searches by Taliban officers. Since then, every knock at the gate fills me with dread.

The journalist’s work involves meeting people and recording their stories, but each interview carries the risk of exposure. She has interviewed survivors of violence, transgender individuals, and women experiencing domestic abuse. One recent assignment required traveling to the outskirts of the city, changing taxis twice, with a friend accompanying her for safety.

These women’s stories reflect a broader reality across Afghanistan. Twelve women and girls have documented their experiences at significant personal risk, offering the world a window into lives shaped by restriction yet sustained by resilience. Their accounts reveal not only loss but also determination—the refusal to disappear even as walls close in from every direction.

The anniversary of the Taliban’s return marks more than a date on the calendar. It represents five years of adaptation, survival, and quiet defiance. For Parasto and the journalist, and for countless others, the struggle continues. They remain, despite everything, present in their communities, their homes, and their histories.