Amidst the harrowing grip of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, Arzo, a 15-year-old girl, seeks refuge in Karachi, Pakistan, concealed under a new identity with her elder siblings, Ahamad and Mahsa. The family, fearing Taliban retaliation and deportation by Pakistani authorities, has opted for anonymity, mindful of the 26,000 Afghans deported since October. Arzo's urgent need for medical care, deemed inaccessible in her homeland, fuels concerns about potential enforced repatriation.

Arzo, once vibrant, now battles the aftermath of acid consumption—a desperate act amid the depression triggered by closed schools and stringent Taliban policies limiting women's roles. These policies restrict women's access to workplaces, universities, public spaces, and education beyond the sixth grade, perpetuating silent suffering.

Dr. Shikib Ahmadi, pseudonymous for safety, notes a surge in female patients and suicides in Herat province, attributing it to the Taliban's societal grip. In contrast, the Taliban claims decreased female suicide rates, contradicting UN reports.

Taliban rule amplifies challenges—imprisonment for reporting gender-based violence, severe water shortages, child marriages driven by poverty and traditions. The closure of the Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan High School in New Delhi exacerbates the plight of Afghan refugee children, emphasizing the far-reaching impact of the crisis on education.