In eastern Nangarhar province, Taliban forces are intensifying restrictions on women's presence in parks and gardens, preventing them from engaging in morning walks and exercises, according to local sources. This crackdown is impacting the health and well-being of women, particularly those with medical advice to exercise for conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Reports reveal instances where older women, like Shabnam, 55, facing health issues, are being barred from entering parks for their routine walks. Despite adhering to the hijab and taking precautions, these women are puzzled by the sudden ban on their exercise routines. Approximately 14 parks in Jalalabad city, previously considered safe for women, are now off-limits, forcing them to resort to walking on the streets.

Fereshta expresses concern for her mother's deteriorating health as the ban prevents her from managing high blood pressure and diabetes through daily exercise. The reasons behind the ban remain unclear to residents like Fazl, who was stopped at the gates of the park, highlighting the confusion and distress among those affected.

The Taliban's Vice and Virtue department in Nangarhar confirmed the ban, stating that women are prohibited from entering parks or exercising in them. Abdul Ghaffar Sabawoon Farooq, head of Vice and Virtue publications in Nangarhar, dismissed claims that sick and elderly women benefited from the green spaces, insisting they can exercise at home.

Since the Taliban assumed control in August 2021, they have imposed severe restrictions on women, including education and recreational activities. The international community has not recognized the Taliban's de facto government, citing ongoing human rights violations. Taliban officials attribute these restrictions to "Islamic Sharia law" or claim they are "temporary," but the impact on women's daily lives is undeniable.