Deputy Editor John O'Connor on how influencers are enabling Taliban propaganda

By John O'Connor | Sep 11 2026

It has been five years since the Taliban seized power, Afghanistan remains one of the most repressive countries in the world for women. The right to education, work, freedom of movement, and voice have been taken away.

A Taliban issued decree in 2024 even banned the construction of residential windows that overlook areas where women may be seen. Yet, tourism in Afghanistan is increasing at an alrming rate.

So, why are tourists coming to Aghanistan to admire the view when Afghan women cannot do the same from their own windows?

The recent influx of tourism can be seen on social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok and the videos on these platforms often have the title “Visiting The Most Dangerous Country In The World” - the more exotic destination, the better.

These videos more often than not end in the same way, the influencer in question saying: “It’s not as bad as I thought”.

The influencers then cross the country off their bucket lists and leave suppression and oppressive regimes behind and head to their next destination.

Travelling to Afghanistan is becoming more accessible and with that, more false narratives. In March, 2026, Taliban-controlled Aghanistan announced a new e-visa system as the nation attempts to encourage more international travellers to visit the country.

According to the Afghan government, more than 7,000 international travellers, influencers included, visited the country of Afghanistan  in  the first half  of 2025 alone.

Now visitors can secure a 30-day single entry visa Thanks to the new streamline visa process, vistor numbers are expected to grow. Visiting Afghanistan does not mean understanding the country. Quite the opposite: the desire for an authenticexperience could result  in tourists encountering a carefully controlled reality which leads them to believe this is the ‘real Afghanistan’.

Tourists must travel with touring companies, many acting as de facto representatives of local authorities and guides to an Afghanistan that does not truly exist.

Afghanistan has it all; the landscapes, the architecture, the landmarks, but it remains the one of the most hostile environments in the world for women. This should be enough to take it off any bucketlist, but the appeal of danger and the blind realisation that there 'isn't any', is too entoxicating to resist for some.