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Afghanistan’s crisis deepens: Fawzia Koofi on Taliban rule and global response
“The Taliban’s war is against women,” Fawzia Koofi, former Afghan parliamentarian and women’s rights activist, told GZERO’s Tony Maciulis on the sidelines of the 2025 Munich Security Conference.
Nearly four years since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Koofi described a country in economic collapse, political repression, and worsening humanitarian conditions. With women erased from public life and banned from education and employment, Afghanistan’s economy has suffered a $3 billion loss—all while 90% of Afghans live in poverty.
Despite international condemnations, Koofi argued that diplomatic efforts have failed to bring meaningful change. “It is naïve to believe the Taliban will reverse their edicts. Their survival depends on suppression.” Instead, she sees division within the Taliban’s ranks as a possible opening for change, provided sustained international pressure weakens the group’s control. As global leaders debate their approach, Koofi warned against engaging the Taliban without clear principles. “We don’t need to fix the Taliban. We need to fix Afghanistan.”
This interview, conducted by Tony Maciulis, is part of the Global Stage series at the 2025 Munich Security Conference, presented by GZERO in partnership with Microsoft.
The fallout from US Afghanistan withdrawal: a Marine's perspective
Almost one year ago, US forces departed Afghanistan after two decades of war. Their enemy was the Taliban, who didn't wait for all American soldiers to leave before taking over the country.
One year later, Afghanistan is in shambles. The country's economy has tanked, food shortages abound and women and girls face new restrictions on their freedoms. Still, most Americans believe President Joe Biden made the right call by ending this "forever war."
On GZERO World, Ian Bremmer speaks to former US marine and CIA officer Elliot Ackerman, whose new book "The Fifth Act," details the chaotic American withdrawal from Afghanistan. Ackerman believes the US military could have done a much better job at leaving the country, not to mention leaving so many Afghan allies behind.
Then, GZERO World speaks to Fawzia Koofi, who served as a member of Afghan Parliament from 2005 until 2021, about the grim new reality for women and girls in her country. A country she had to flee after the Taliban takeover.
Taliban regime has been “death in slow motion” for Afghan women
Fawzia Koofi was a member of Afghan Parliament from 2005 until last year, when the Taliban swept back to power.
On GZERO World, Koofi describes her experience working as one of the only female voices at the table during the negotiations with the Taliban.
In the room, they promised Koofi that women would play an active role in Afghan society. They even hinted at an inclusive government.
But after one year in power, the militant group has yet to make good on any of their promises.
Girls must now end their education by 6th grade. The last remaining female university students must learn separately from their male counterparts before women are fazed out of higher education all together. The Taliban has also broken up women's rights protests with gunfire.
Still, Koofi, who fled the country shortly after the takeover, says she remains hopeful that Afghanistan will one day have better leadership.