A number of women’s rights activists report that, following the suspension of women’s rights institutions—including the Ministry of Women’s Affairs—there are no reliable statistics on the prevalence of underage and forced marriages in Afghanistan. However, anecdotal evidence and case reports indicate a notable increase in both practices since the Taliban's return to power.

Several girls who were married off under coercion in the past two years have shared their stories, linking their experiences directly to the collapse of the previous government and the subsequent deterioration in opportunities for girls, particularly in education. One girl, who requested anonymity, shared her story with deep regret. She was 17 years old at the time of the regime change and was forced into marriage just two weeks after the fall of the republic. Prior to her marriage, she had taken the university entrance exam and earned 312 marks in her chosen field—an achievement she was proud of. However, the marriage ended her academic ambitions, and she was forced to leave school. Now 19, and the mother of a six-month-old child, she reflected on how she used to study late into the night and consistently ranked first in her class up to twelfth grade. She said, “All my efforts were wasted. I had a dream, and I couldn't reach it.” Another teenager, Maryam, now 16, became a victim of forced marriage six months ago. She told activists that she had aspired to become a doctor, but the worsening political and social conditions left her with no choice. “I had no future to hold on to,” she said. “That’s why I had to accept something I never wanted.”

Activists emphasize that in the absence of legal protections, support systems, and educational opportunities for girls, child and forced marriages are not only increasing but becoming normalized, with devastating consequences for young Afghan women’s lives and futures.

Authorities of the Taliban group in Badghis province have remained silent on this matter. Some reports from western provinces of Afghanistan indicate that girls are being forced into marriage with men disguised as herdsmen.

The testimonies underscore how the collapse of women’s rights institutions and erosion of legal protections under Taliban rule have driven a surge in underage and forced marriages. The stories of Afghan girls forced into early marriage after being stripped of educational and professional opportunities illustrate how gender inequality and the loss of autonomy are systemically enforced. Without education, legal recourse, or institutional support, forced marriage has not only intensified but become normalized—dismantling futures and violating core rights to freedom, education, and self-determination.