Where Afghan Women's Work Is Allowed Depends on Local Taliban Leaders

Afghan women banned from school and university now earn money from home—sewing, cooking, making crafts. But whether they can actually work depends on where they live. A 2026 investigation found Taliban rules differ sharply by region: some areas let women operate; others shut them down. Local commanders decide, not central leadership. Without legal protections or bank loans, these businesses stay small and fragile.