KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban has unveiled a five-year plan it calls “Afghanistan’s Development Strategy,” outlining priorities for governance, security, international relations, and economic growth.
Speaking at a press conference in Kabul on Tuesday, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesperson, said the plan had been approved by the group’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. He described the document as a “clear development vision” for the next five years.
According to Mujahid, the strategy covers ten sectors, including the economy, agriculture, natural resources, transport, communications, health, education, and environmental conservation. It also lists 15 priority programs, including governance under Sharia law, delivering what the Taliban calls “Islamic justice,” and strengthening regional and international relations.
“The strategy unites and aligns the resources and activities of government institutions to achieve the core objectives effectively,” Mujahid said.
When asked if girls’ education was part of the strategy, Mujahid dismissed the question as a “minor matter,” saying the plan focuses on broader national priorities. He did not answer a follow-up question on the issue.
During the press conference, a female journalist’s microphone was muted as she tried to ask a question. Under the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic law, women’s voices are considered “awrah,” or private, and are restricted from being heard publicly.
Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on women and girls. They are banned from secondary and higher education, most jobs, gyms, and public parks, and must be accompanied by a male guardian when traveling. The United Nations estimates that more than 2.2 million girls are now out of school, and over 100,000 women have been barred from universities. Human rights groups have described these restrictions as a form of “gender apartheid.”
The Taliban’s release of a new strategy comes as Afghanistan remains largely isolated on the international stage and grapples with one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Almost 23 million people — more than half the population — depend on aid to survive. Worsening poverty, high unemployment, and the mass expulsion of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries have further deepened the crisis.
