Afghanistan

women in training

This Afghan female fighter fought with US troops. Now, she’s readjusting to life in the US.

Over the course of two years, Sima shares her struggle to make a life in the US in the podcast “Stranger Becomes Neighbor.” The evacuation from Afghanistan is just the beginning of a story that is still developing.

This Afghan female fighter fought with US troops. Now, she’s readjusting to life in the US.
Two girls holding paper signs that say "Education is our right"

Afghan student struggles with adjusting to life in the US

Afghan student struggles with adjusting to life in the US
Women providing services within a beauty salon

'We are dead inside:’ Women in Afghanistan protest Taliban ban of beauty salons

'We are dead inside:’ Women in Afghanistan protest Taliban ban of beauty salons
wall with women's faces marked out

Women in Afghanistan are devastated by the Taliban’s ban on beauty salons

Women in Afghanistan are devastated by the Taliban’s ban on beauty salons
women with signs

After Taliban ban, women NGO workers in Afghanistan struggle to make ends meet

After Taliban ban, women NGO workers in Afghanistan struggle to make ends meet
man at podium

Afghans who fled to the US hope that Congress will fix their status 

After Afghanistan fell to the Taliban almost two years ago in August, tens of thousands of Afghans made their way to the United States. They were allowed to stay under a program called “humanitarian parole.” But that status expires in a couple of months, and although they can renew one time, many are calling for Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would allow them to seek more permanent status.

Afghans who fled to the US hope that Congress will fix their status 
US Special Envoy Rina Amiri addresses the 16th annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards virtual ceremony at the State Department, Monday, March 14, 2022, in Washington. 

US special envoy: Taliban ‘puts women’s right at peril everywhere’

With continued violations of women's rights in Afghanistan, US Special Envoy Rina Amiri tells The World's host Marco Werman that not normalizing the Taliban government is crucial to fighting hardline elements in the country, and for setting a precedent in other places.

US special envoy: Taliban ‘puts women’s right at peril everywhere’
A classroom that previously was used for girls sits empty in Kabul, Afghanistan, Dec. 22, 2022.

He spoke out against banning girls’ education. The Taliban silenced him.

Ismail Mashal used to teach at two universities in Afghanistan. He ran his own education centers and was an outspoken critic of the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education. He was arrested earlier this month, along with another academic and a journalist.

He spoke out against banning girls’ education. The Taliban silenced him.
Malala Yousafzai pointing at a poster advertisement of her documentary, "Stranger at the Gate."

'There is hope': Malala Yousafzai promotes tolerance, connection with new documentary

Malala Yousafzai's new Oscar-nominated documentary, "Stranger at the Gate," features a former US marine suffering from PTSD who sets out to bomb a mosque in Indiana, but changes his life around after the community embraces him. Yousafzai joins The World's Marco Werman to discuss the film and her own experiences.

'There is hope': Malala Yousafzai promotes tolerance, connection with new documentary
A general view of Mes Aynak valley is seen some 25 miles southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan, March 2, 2022. Buildings on top are offices of Chinese mining company MCC that won the contract to exploit the world's second-largest copper mine.

A Chinese company strikes a deal with the Taliban to extract oil from Afghanistan

Beijing signs onto a deal with the Taliban to extract oil from the north of Afghanistan. ​Graeme Smith, a senior consultant for the International Crisis Group, discusses the implications of the agreement with The World's host Carol Hills.

A Chinese company strikes a deal with the Taliban to extract oil from Afghanistan
A Taliban fighter stands guard as people wait to receive food rations distributed by a South Korean humanitarian aid group, in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 10, 2022.

Afghan women say they are ‘dying in slow motion’ after killing of former female MP

Mursal Nabizada, who decided to remain in Afghanistan after the Taliban took over in 2021, was killed by gunmen on Jan. 15, along with her bodyguard. A friend and former colleague of hers, Fawzia Koofi, speaks with The World’s host Marco Werman about her memories of Nabizada and the ongoing plight of women in the country.

Afghan women say they are ‘dying in slow motion’ after killing of former female MP
women and a baby

‘I am living through my worst nightmare’: Women aid workers in Afghanistan react to ban on employment

Women who work for nongovernmental organizations in Afghanistan are in shock after the group announced a ban on female employees.

‘I am living through my worst nightmare’: Women aid workers in Afghanistan react to ban on employment
Afghan women participate in a protest against the university education ban for women, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Dec. 22, 2022.

Education for women 'is an Afghan value and an Islamic right,' says male professor in solidarity against university ban

Male faculty members have stood up in solidarity with Afghan women following a Taliban decree banning them from attending universities. Obaidullah Baheer, a lecturer at the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, discusses the situation with The World's host Marco Werman.

Education for women 'is an Afghan value and an Islamic right,' says male professor in solidarity against university ban
Smoke rises from a hotel building after an explosions and gunfire in Kabul, Afghanistan, Dec. 12, 2022.

Taliban: Assailants attack hotel in Afghan capital Kabul

Three Afghan locals have been killed, with others injured — including two foreigners — after gunmen attacked a Kabul hotel frequented by Chinese nationals on Monday.

Taliban: Assailants attack hotel in Afghan capital Kabul
woman against wall

These Afghan women soldiers made it out of Afghanistan. Their next battle is making it in the US.

About 40 members of a special, all-women Afghan platoon that worked alongside the US military barely made it out of Afghanistan last year. Now, they want to put their training to use even though they remain in a legal limbo. But that hasn’t stopped them learning English and getting an education. 

These Afghan women soldiers made it out of Afghanistan. Their next battle is making it in the US.