Afghan Women's Underground Economy Hinges on Taliban's Unpredictable Regional Tolerance

Excluded from universities since December 2022 and secondary schools since 2021, Afghan women have shifted to informal home-based enterprises—tailoring, food production, handicrafts. Yet survival depends on geography. Crisis Group's March 2026 fieldwork found Taliban enforcement varies sharply by province: women face closure in some regions while operating freely in others. This unevenness reflects decentralized governance where local commanders override central edicts. Without legal recognition or access to formal credit, these businesses remain structurally capped.