Hidden Realities: How Female Tour Guides in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan Mask Harsh Oppression

In Kabul’s National Museum, a group of foreign women quietly listens as their female Afghan guide explains the antiquities. On the surface, it seems like an ordinary cultural exchange, even uplifting amid decades of conflict. Yet this carefully orchestrated experience is emblematic of a harsh reality: under the Taliban’s iron grip, Afghan women endure some of the most severe restrictions in the world.

Somaya Moniry, one of Afghanistan’s pioneering female tour guides, discovered this profession unexpectedly through an online traveler network—a rare opportunity made possible only by limited tourism cautiously encouraged by the Taliban regime. But while these tours showcase Afghanistan’s rich history and beauty, they also serve as a thin veil over the brutal suppression women face daily.

Can Tourism Whitewash Taliban Tyranny?

The Taliban government promotes these limited tourism efforts to project normalcy and attract much-needed revenue, exploiting Western curiosity while maintaining draconian limits on women’s freedoms. Girls are barred from secondary education; women must conform to dress codes, are banned from public parks and restaurants, and have access to only select professions. These realities starkly contradict any narrative that Afghanistan is safe or advancing.

This situation begs an urgent question: How long will global observers allow such regimes to manipulate perceptions while silencing half their population? The Taliban’s calculated use of female tour guides—working within strict confines—does not change the fact that America’s strategic interests lie in supporting genuine liberty and national sovereignty for Afghans, especially its women.

Facing Facts: America Must Not Be Fooled

The end of U.S. military presence did not end instability nor improve rights for Afghan citizens. Instead, it opened space for brutal Islamist rule that threatens regional security and global norms. While some adventure travelers admire Afghan hospitality and landscapes, these experiences cannot obscure how this regime fuels extremism and human suffering.

An “ethical tourism” label cannot justify neglecting the ongoing oppression or overlooking threats posed by a government officially recognized only by global adversaries like Russia. America First means standing against tyranny—not indulging in sanitized tours that risk enabling authoritarian propaganda at our expense.

The United States must maintain vigilance: highlighting truths rather than curated illusions reinforces our commitment to freedom worldwide and protects national security. Empowering Afghan women requires more than token gestures; it demands consistent pressure against regimes who deny basic human rights while feigning reform.