Five years after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, daily life in Kabul is defined by a striking tension between stringent official dictates and subtle social pushback. While authorities have reintroduced strict social rules—including mandatory face coverings for women and regulations on public socializing—enforcement and compliance look markedly different from the Taliban's rule in the 1990s. Rather than withdrawing entirely from public space, many residents are finding understated ways to navigate and resist government overreach.
In the capital, women continue to maintain a visible presence in public life. Female hosts and contestants appear on televised game shows wearing medical masks rather than full-face veils, while on Kabul's streets, some women walk unescorted by male guardians in casual attire. Underground operations have also emerged to bypass official bans. After the Taliban ordered the closure of roughly 3,000 beauty salons in Kabul and 12,000 nationwide in 2023, beauticians shifted their businesses to private homes, quietly hosting clients online despite periodic sweeps by virtue and vice patrols.
A similar duality exists in entertainment and male social culture. Although movie theaters remain shuttered, foreign television broadcasts from neighboring countries are widely watched, and dating continues discreetly in public spaces. Meanwhile, young men—including members of the Taliban—are turning to fitness culture, hair implants, and cosmetic procedures despite official prohibitions against Western haircuts and knee-revealing clothing. Kabul-based freelance journalist Ali Latifi noted that local gyms, cafes, and shops have endured largely because residents refused to give up their daily routines following the political transition.
While serious risks remain for those who flout government mandates, observers see room for ongoing social negotiation. Obaidullah Baheer, a lecturer on civil society and democracy at the American University in Afghanistan, suggests that citizens continue to engage with their social reality rather than accepting absolute control. For many in Kabul, preserving personal expression, daily habits, and clandestine enterprises represents a persistent effort to shape the country's social landscape.