This research begins by addressing a critical paradox: twenty-five years after the ratification of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the track record of gender inclusivity in peacebuilding remains dismal. Moreover, the overall effectiveness of peacebuilding itself has been disappointing. Existing literature suggests a strong link between these two phenomena: the exclusion of women correlates with more fragile peace agreements that are prone to relapse. Despite robust evidence that the inclusion of women leads to more resilient peace processes and the reinforcement of international norms advocating for gender inclusivity, women and their interests continue to be marginalized in post-conflict peacebuilding. For the study, I create and utilize an enhanced version of the PA-X Peace Agreement Database for large-N analysis, alongside a qualitative case study of Afghanistan—including archival research, semi-structured surveys with policymakers, and process tracing of its peace process—my research demonstrates that certain actors are more inclined to advocate for the inclusion of women and gender provisions, while others obstruct these efforts. These findings challenge conventional narratives about the role of Western-liberal actors in advancing gender equity and offer critical insights into the factors that foster more inclusive and sustainable peace processes that are less vulnerable to conflict-relapse.