KABUL: The Taliban government has announced new restrictions affecting women’s access to a joint border market established between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
Furthermore, the market is located in Hairatan, a key border area in Afghanistan’s northern Balkh province, and serves as a shared commercial and public space for traders and visitors from both countries.
The market has traditionally attracted a large number of shoppers, including women, due to its accessibility and availability of goods. In this regard, women are no longer permitted to enter the market without being accompanied by a male guardian, commonly referred to as a mahram.
In such a scenario, local media outlets report that Taliban guards are actively checking visitors at entry points.
So far, women arriving without a male escort are being turned away, while men accompanying women are being asked to provide documentation proving a close family relationshi p. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses and residents of Hairatan have described the enforcement process as strict.
Some locals have alleged that Taliban personnel occasionally display harsh behavior toward men who fail to produce the required documents. In this sense, one local Afghan resident told media representatives that the treatment faced by citizens at the market can feel more severe than interactions with authorities on the Uzbek side of the border.
The individual added that people attempting to cross or access the market often face repeated questioning and pressure, creating an atmosphere of discomfort and uncertainty.
Despite widespread reporting and public concern, Taliban officials have not yet issued a formal or detailed statement explaining the policy or its legal basis. The Hairatan border market plays an important role in regional trade and cross-border interaction.
