Afghan Women And the Return of The Taliban. (cover story)

AFGHANISTAN -- Politics & government -- 2001-; AFGHANISTAN -- Social life & customs; WOMEN -- Crimes against; WOMEN -- Social conditions; HUMAN rights; KARZAI, Hamid, 1957-; TALIBAN; AFGHAN War, 2001-

The article examines the situation of women in Afghanistan and the Afghan War. The case of a young woman who was mutilated by Taliban members for leaving an abusive husband is presented as an example of the perilous status of women's rights and human rights in that country. The inability of U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) armed forces to prevent increased Taliban influence in many areas of Afghanistan is considered. President Hamid Karzai's efforts to create a negotiated political settlement with the Taliban to end the insurgency is examined, particularly his stated willingness to put ending the war ahead of protecting human rights.