This policy brief examines the roles Afghan women have played in relation to the Taliban, challenging their frequent portrayal solely as passive victims of political violence. Drawing on extensive secondary literature, journalistic accounts, and expert interviews, it explores whether and how women have supported, enabled, resisted, or opposed the Taliban during both the period of Taliban rule (1996–2001) and the subsequent insurgency.
The analysis highlights the limited but notable ways in which some women have provided passive or supportive assistance to the Taliban, often driven by fear, coercion, kinship ties, or pragmatic considerations rather than ideological commitment. At the same time, the paper documents diverse forms of women’s resistance and resilience, including informal education networks, economic survival strategies, underground women’s organisations, and individual acts of political opposition.
The brief concludes by arguing that women should not be understood only as victims of violent extremism, but also as potential allies in preventing and countering violent extremism. It calls for greater recognition of women’s agency, improved data collection, and the inclusion of gender perspectives across P/CVE analysis, policy, and practice.