Afghanistan at Five: Shadows of Taliban Rule, the Human Cost, and Windows of Hope for a New Era
IntroductionAugust 2026 marks five years since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan on 15 August 2021. This event brings together Afghan voices, human rights defenders, analysts, policymakers, civil society actors, and international stakeholders for a focused, evidence-based discussion. It examines the lived realities of the past five years under Taliban rule—particularly the systematic restrictions…