One of the key reasons for the setbacks after the Taliban’s fall in 2001 was widespread corruption among Afghan organizations, civil society activists, and human rights advocates. The misuse of international aid, submission of fraudulent project reports, and collusion with corrupt politicians exemplified this pervasive problem. For example, Sarah Chayes, an American journalist who co-founded "Afghans for Civil Society" with Qayum Karzai, witnessed firsthand how aid intended for the public was diverted to pay bribes and enrich questionable figures. She chronicled these observations in her book Thieves of State. Similarly, reports emerged of women’s rights activists in Kabul who siphoned off education funds with falsified reports or profited by selling humanitarian aid on the black market. This rampant corruption eroded public confidence and ultimately facilitated the Taliban’s resurgence.