In the remote highlands of central Afghanistan, where generations of women once wove intricate carpets and fine embroidery, the hum of looms has grown faint.
For years, the delicate craftsmanship of women in Ghor Province served as both cultural heritage and economic lifeline. But since the suspension of most international aid following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, women-led enterprises in this mountainous region have all but disappeared.
“We are crushed by poverty and joblessness,” said a woman in Taywara district who asked not to be named for her safety. “I am ill and can’t afford treatment. I know how to weave carpets, but I have no money to start again.”
Carpet weaving, silk embroidery, and traditional needlework have long been practiced by women in this part of Afghanistan, often passed down through generations. Some found opportunities through aid-supported programs that once provided training, supplies and modest incomes. With the withdrawal of Western aid, however, those programs have halted, and the women say they are left with no support and no materials.
“I used to work with carpet makers in the village,” said another woman. “They paid me 100 to 150 Afghanis a day. But we never got to finish a full carpet ourselves or earn real income from it.”
The consequences of the collapse are tangible. Mamlakat, a mother in Ghor, said her family cannot afford even the most basic necessities. “My children don’t have shampoo to wash their hair. They have no clothes, no shoes. Everyone knows we have nothing,” she said.
Local officials and aid workers say the situation worsened after the United States and other donors suspended humanitarian assistance, which had previously supported micro-enterprises across the country. In districts like Taywara, where roads are limited and connectivity is poor, the impact has been particularly acute.
Once a proud symbol of cultural identity and a source of economic independence, the weaving tradition in Ghor now hangs by a thread — not for lack of knowledge or willingness, women say, but for lack of investment, opportunity and support.
“We still carry the skill in our hands,” said one woman quietly. “But now, there is no one left to help us use it.”
