The woman, who has not been identified, was pictured striding confidently through the streets of Kabul without the traditional burqa which normally covers the body.

Journalist Hayat Ensafi, who took the pictures, said he was stunned by the woman's actions. 

He told BBC Trending: 'I know I had to catch this special moment because I never saw a woman here walking down the streets like this. The whole city of Kabul is shocked.'

He said he tried to approach her, but she walked 'very fast and didn't talk to me at all.'

They have previously, during the 1960s and 70s in particular, been allowed to wear short skirts as long they still covered their faces with a veil.

However, this was outlawed under the Taliban and is still seen as taboo despite their removal from power after the NATO-led invasion in 2001.  

One Facebook commentator called Sidiq wrote: 'It's her body not yours. Salute her courage. We want to see more women come out like that.'

Another said: 'My body, my right... no to forced hijab (headdress).'

(dailymail.co.uk)