Amid uncertainty, Afghan youth cling tight to what they’ve gained

Shogofa Noorzai fought hard to become a young, newly minted female member of the Afghan parliament.

For years she battled brothers and uncles who sometimes beat her to block her rise – never mind the cultural traditions she faced down in her conservative Helmand province that dictate marriage and public silence for women.

But now Ms. Noorzai is concerned that the social gains she exemplifies may be reversed by political paralysis in Kabul, and by a U.S. withdrawal deal that may lead again to a form of strict Taliban rule.

“As the first woman, I acted as a man and traveled to every district of Helmand,” says Ms. Noorzai, 26, speaking with confidence in her Kabul office, whose walls are painted with historical scenes of the founding of Afghanistan.

“I talked

U.S. staying on schedule“A big light in their minds”Eyes on the Taliban