Two Afghan women were killed and several injured during a rare public protest in Kabul on Wednesday, eyewitnesses and local sources have reported. The demonstration, organised by a small group of women demanding the restoration of education and employment rights, was swiftly dispersed by Taliban security forces. Video footage circulating on social media shows armed guards firing into the crowd and beating protesters with rifle butts.
The incident comes as Britain reaffirmed its freeze on direct development aid to Afghanistan, a policy in place since the Taliban takeover in August 2021. A Foreign Office spokesman stated that the UK would continue to provide humanitarian assistance through independent agencies but would not normalise relations with the de facto authorities. The protest marks the most significant public challenge to Taliban rule since the fall of the previous government.
Women’s rights activists have decried the regime’s systematic erasure of women from public life, including bans on secondary education, most employment, and access to parks and gyms. The Taliban administration has not officially commented on the incident. Security analysts suggest the crackdown aims to deter further dissent ahead of the second anniversary of the takeover.
The aid freeze, part of a broader international strategy, has drawn criticism from some humanitarian groups who argue it punishes civilians more than the regime. However, Western governments maintain that any direct funding would legitimise the Taliban and undermine the rights of women and minorities.
