Pamina Firchow and Eliza Urwin’s study in rural eastern Afghanistan reveals that villagers view girls’ education and women’s employment as key indicators of everyday peace—while largely omitting political rights and property ownership. This disconnect highlights a gap between international women’s rights agendas and local perspectives. The authors argue that foreign-led, top-down approaches—often perceived as Western impositions—undermined Afghan-led movements and fueled backlash. Instead, sustainable progress lies in grassroots engagement with local women, men, and civil society. True support for women’s rights must center Afghan voices, reject militarized interventions, and recognize the diversity and complexity of Afghan women’s lived realities.