I have recently accompanied few foreign journalists to Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province, the epicenter of last year’s earthquake, to visit the internally displaced people. They live in a miserable condition in camps, suffering from cold weather and food shortage. Hazrat Azim, the father of three children, was asleep when the magnitude 6 earthquake struck […]
Year: 2025
Democratic Principles Lead to Peace
Political and cultural exchanges and economic give-and-take are likely to pave the ground for sustainable peace and stability. In the global village, the entire world is connected in one way or another. Human societies have common interests. Collective conscience of mankind will be outraged if a bloody incident happens in the farthest corner of the […]
The Burden of Restriction: How Forced Veiling and Dress Codes Exhausted Afghan Society
As a girl in Afghanistan, you grow familiar with a particular question shouted at you on the street: “Where is your mask, hamshira?” It follows you whether you are out for a simple walk, buying groceries, or standing in a bread line. Families cannot spend time together outdoors, since entertainment spaces are banned for women […]
Beauty Makes our World Colorful
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just […]
The Empty Nest
Gone are the days when we gathered around our grandma and begged her to narrate fairy-tales. We used to listen with fear and delight. Whenever we felt lonely, we would badger her to tell us a story. She knew plenty of long stories appropriate especially for cold days of winter. Perhaps, sometimes she herself fabricated […]
You Are a Wonderful Mother if You Give Birth to a Boy
Throughout history, in many countries, including Afghanistan, giving birth to a boy is still considered a great fortune. When a male baby is born, families often throw large celebrations. They invite relatives and friends, cook delicious meals, and stay up all night to celebrate what they consider a great blessing. The mother is showered with […]
Afghan Women’s Historical Role is Disregard
Women have played a constructive role in the Afghan society and their names are recorded in the history for their active role and heroic acts. Women supported men during war and heartened them to fight for the protection of their national values and human dignity at the cost of their lives. Although the patriarchal system […]
Women’s Marginalization Will be Self-destructive
Women have been highly vulnerable in Afghanistan and their rights and freedoms were debated within all political administrations. In the two decades of the republic government, women played crucial role in social, political, and economic spheres. Their representatives engaged in the Doha talks, held between the United States and the Taliban leadership. But the human […]
The terrifying spectre of an internet shutdown in Afghanistan
A partial shutdown of fibre-optic internet has spread fear. Afghans do not want to be cut off from the world. When I was a child, Afghans had to travel to Pakistan whenever they needed to make a phone call to their relatives outside the country. Today, we face the real possibility that we may also […]
The Impact of Education on Women’s Economic Empowerment in Developing Societies
The Impact of Education on Women’s Economic Empowerment in Developing Societies Education is one of the most important tools for improving living standards and enhancing the social and economic status of women in developing societies. As women’s level of education increases, they gain the skills and knowledge needed to enter the labor market and can […]
