Gigi Kotze
14/08/2025
On 15 August 2021, the Taliban took control of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, after a major offensive that began in May of that year. This marked the end of the war in Afghanistan and the start of a difficult new chapter for the country. This year marks four years since that turning point.
How the Taliban Started and Rose to Power
- The Taliban began in the mid-1990s in Afghanistan after:
– Soviet troops withdrew
– The Afghan communist regime collapsed
– The country fell into lawlessness and warlord control
- The name “Taliban” means “students” in Pashto – it began with Islamic students from madrasahs (religious schools) in southern Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- They aimed to fight crime and corruption and bring order based on strict Islamic beliefs.
- In 1994, Taliban fighters took control of Kandahar and nearby areas by defeating a local warlord.
- By 1996, they had captured Kabul, controlling about two-thirds of the country.
- Their rule was very strict, following:
– Hard-line religious ideology (Deobandi + Wahhabi)
Deobandi comes from a school of thought in South Asia that teaches a very conservative form of Islam. Wahhabi is another strict form of Islam, mostly found in Saudi Arabia. The Taliban mixed both to form their religious rules.
– Traditional Pashtun code (Pashtunwali)
This is the traditional code of conduct followed by the Pashtun people, the main ethnic group in the Taliban. It includes honour, revenge, hospitality, and protecting one’s tribe or family.
- Harsh punishments and strict control over women (women were banned from work and school; cultural relics were destroyed.)
- Only three countries recognised the Taliban government: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
- The Taliban gave safe haven to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, who planned the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
- After 9/11, the US and its allies invaded Afghanistan. By December 2001, the Taliban regime was toppled.
- The Taliban survived as an insurgent group and began rebuilding from 2005.
- They used new tactics like suicide bombings and roadside bombs, gaining recruits who were unhappy with the Afghan government and foreign forces.
- Taliban leadership remained mostly hidden, while the Haqqani network gained influence in military operations.
- The Afghan government and the US tried to make peace with the Taliban, but the Taliban refused to recognise the Afghan government and insisted on talking only with the US.
- In 2020, a deal was signed between the Taliban and the US:
– The US agreed to withdraw all troops
– The Taliban promised to stop attacks on US forces and prevent terrorist groups from operating in Afghanistan
- As the US withdrew in 2021, the Taliban quickly captured many districts.
- On 15 August 2021, the Taliban took over Kabul and the Afghan government collapsed.
- Russia has accepted the new Afghan ambassador, aiming to build closer ties with the Taliban government.
The Impact of Taliban Rule on Afghanistan Today
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan on 15 August 2021, life has become much harder, especially for women, girls, and children. The Taliban have tightened restrictions, banning girls from school after Grade 6 and stopping women from going to university, working freely, or moving around without a male relative. Many women now struggle to access healthcare and humanitarian aid. The Taliban have also detained journalists, silenced anyone who speaks out, and punished people for things such as playing music or not wearing the hijab “correctly.” Public executions have been reported as well.
At the same time, nearly two million Afghan refugees have been forced to return from Iran, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. Their return has put huge pressure on the country’s already limited food, aid, and basic services. Afghanistan is now facing its worst child malnutrition crisis ever, with almost ten million people lacking enough food and one in three children not growing properly. The World Food Programme says it needs over $500 million to help the country’s most vulnerable families.
In the midst of this deep suffering, Christians are called to remember that God’s love never fails, and His kingdom is eternal. Though the situation looks bleak, we can trust that God is at work even in the darkest places. Jesus taught us to care for the hungry, the oppressed, and the vulnerable (Matthew 25:35-40), and we are reminded that our hope is not in this world but in Him.
Please pray for the people of Afghanistan, especially women, children, and refugees, who face immense hardship and fear. Ask God to provide for their needs—food, health, and safety—and to bring peace and hope. Pray that His comfort will surround those suffering, and that Christians inside and outside Afghanistan will be strengthened to bring light and help in these dark times.
The Persecution and Hope of Afghan Christians Under Taliban Rule
In Afghanistan, out of a total population of 43,675,000, approximately 43,673,000 people (100.0%) are considered unreached according to the Joshua Project, with 99.8% adhering to Islam and only 0.02% identifying as Christian.
Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, Christians have faced much harsher persecution. Most Afghan Christians are converts from Islam, and openly practising their faith is nearly impossible. Leaving Islam is seen as shameful by families and communities and is punishable by death under Islamic law. The Taliban have made these punishments stricter and more often enforced.
If a Christian convert is found out, their family or tribe may try to force them to give up their faith through pressure, violence, or even murder to protect their “honour.” If the government discovers their faith, many Christians have no choice but to flee the country to stay safe. Because of this, Afghan Christians live with great fear and suffering.
An INcontext friend shared these realities from the ground: The churches in Afghanistan are facing severe security challenges, yet the work of God is growing as many people, weary of Islam, are turning to Jesus. There are no official church buildings, but hundreds of house churches have formed, connecting new believers to Christian communities. Since 2021, more than 100 new house churches have been established, each with at least seven members, who boldly share the Gospel—sometimes at the cost of their lives. Christians face imprisonment, death, displacement, loss of education for their children, hunger, and unemployment. They urgently need prayer and material support for daily needs, as well as training for leaders to strengthen the growing church. In the words of our friend: “We all believe in our Lord, Jesus Christ, and we obey Him.”
He also went on to share this testimony of an Afghan Christian woman: life for women in Afghanistan is extremely hard, with the Taliban banning education, work, and free speech. Being a Christian woman brings even greater danger. She recalls the 2015 murder of Farkhunda Malikzada, a Muslim woman falsely accused of burning the Quran, as a chilling example of the violence women can face. Having lived in Afghanistan as a teenager, she remembers the constant fear for her and her sister’s safety. She asks for prayer for Afghan Christian women, whose mental and emotional health is deeply affected, and prays that God would give them strength, peace, and the support of their families.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:10 offer both comfort and a profound challenge: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” These words remind us that even in the darkest moments of suffering, when fear and pain threaten to overwhelm, God’s kingdom shines as a beacon of hope and eternal promise. The Christians in Afghanistan face unimaginable trials—rejection by family, threats to their very lives, and isolation because of their faith. Yet, in their suffering, they hold on to the unshakable truth that they are not forgotten by God. Their courage is a powerful testimony to the living hope they carry within them.
As the global church, we cannot turn away or remain silent. We are called to be the tangible presence of Christ’s love—through fervent prayer that surrounds these hidden believers, through bold advocacy that raises their voices, and through practical aid that sustains them when they feel utterly alone. We must open our hearts and hands to those who are forced to flee their homes, offering refuge and compassion.
May the words of Hebrews 13:3 pierce our conscience: “Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” This is a call to deep empathy—inviting us to share in their pain, to bear their burdens as if they were our own. In doing so, we become a living hope, a source of strength, and a reflection of Christ’s unfailing love in a world desperate for light.
Pray for strength and courage for the Christians in Afghanistan who face great fear and suffering for their faith. Ask God to fill them with peace and hope, reminding them they are never alone. Pray for protection over their lives and for opportunities to share God’s love even in hardship. Lift up those who have fled or are hiding, that they may find safety and community. Also, pray that these believers will be able to forgive those who persecute them, reflecting Christ’s love and grace in the midst of suffering.
The spirit behind Islam, as with any belief system that rejects the full truth of Jesus Christ, can be deceptive because it leads people away from the life and freedom found in Him. The Bible warns us to be careful of teachings that appear good but do not bring true peace and salvation (2 Corinthians 11:14). As Christians, we know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), and that only through Him can we have a real and lasting relationship with God. While we respect all people, we must hold firmly to this truth and pray that those living under deception might come to know the freedom and hope that only Christ can give.
Please pray earnestly for the Taliban and for all those living under the bondage of Islam in Afghanistan and beyond. Pray that God would soften their hearts and open their eyes to the truth and freedom found in Jesus Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to break the chains of deception and bring revelation, peace, and transformation. Pray that those who are trapped by fear, religious control, and false teachings would experience God’s love and grace in a powerful way. May the light of Christ shine brightly in the darkest places, bringing hope and salvation to many.
Behind the veil of Taliban rule, the faith of believers endures. Even in the darkest of times, the light of Christ cannot be dimmed. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5 (NIV)
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Taliban
https://www.britannica.com/place/Afghanistan
https://operationworld.org/locations/afghanistan/
https://www.opendoors.org.za/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/afghanistan/
https://www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/stories/10-most-dangerous-places-Christian/
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/08/05/afghanistan-relentless-repression-4-years-into-taliban-rule
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/04/asia/afghanistan-child-malnutrition-surge-intl-hk
https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-returnees-overview-26-july-2025
https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/afghan-refugees-tajikistan/
