Taliban Complies With Pakistan's Demands, Detains 25 TTP Members In Afghanistan

In a new report, HRW added that the changes in the education system have led to increased fears about attending school, falling attendance, and a loss of hope for the future.

The report, “‘Schools are Failing Boys Too’: The Taliban’s Impact on Boys’ Education in Afghanistan,” asked governments and UN agencies to urge the Taliban to end their discriminatory ban on girls’ education and to stop violating boys’ rights to quality education.

The report highlighted some of the Taliban policies and practices that are jeopardising education for Afghan boys, including the dismissal of female teachers, increased use of corporal punishment, and regressive changes to the curriculum.

“The Taliban are causing irreversible damage to the Afghan education system for boys as well as girls,” said Sahar Fetrat, assistant women’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch and author of the report. “By harming the whole school system in the country, they risk creating a lost generation deprived of a quality education.”

The research for the report was conducted remotely by interviewing 22 boys in grades 8 to 12, as well as five parents of boys in the same grade range in Kabul, Balkh, Herat, Farah, Parwan, Bamiyan, Nangarhar, and Daikundi provinces between June and August 2022 and March and April 2023, by HRW.

The report stated that boys and parents described a disturbing spike in the use of corporal punishment, including officials beating boys before the whole school for haircut or clothing infractions or for having a mobile phone. Corporal punishment of children in schools is a violation of their human rights, Human Rights Watch said.

HRW emphasised that the Taliban has eliminated subjects including arts, sports, English, and civic education, causing a decline in educational quality.

Another aspect of education which has been stressed upon in the report is that boys are increasingly struggling with anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems in a country where mental health services are sparse.

The report added that the Taliban’s systematic discrimination against women and girls—of which the ban on girls and women studying is only one aspect—is also having harmful effects on boys, including by teaching them harmful gender norms and putting greater pressure on them be the sole financial providers for their families.

Reports from Pakistani media indicate that the closure occurred following a disagreement with Taliban forces over the placement of a new sign at the crossing's entrance. This disagreement led to the Pakistani border officials shutting down the crossing.

Taliban representatives have also confirmed the closure, attributing it to Pakistan. A statement from the Taliban governor's press office in Nangarhar, citing Ismatullah Yaqoob, the Taliban commissioner in Torkham, noted that Pakistani border guards attempted to erect an additional gate next to the existing one, ostensibly to mount a sign on what they claimed as the "presumed line" the previous night.

This Taliban official mentioned that their group obstructed the sign installation, resulting in the subsequent closure of the crossing by Pakistani guards.

Pakistani authorities, however, have yet to officially acknowledge this border closure.

Wenbin said on Tuesday that the recognition of the Taliban government requires the implementation of "political reforms” by the group.

He added that before the Taliban government is fully recognised diplomatically, it must improve domestic security and relations with its neighbours.

Beijing does not recognise the government of the Taliban, but it has maintained diplomatic relations with the group.

Wang Wenbin said that China hopes that the Taliban will pay more attention to the expectations of the international community, create an open and inclusive political structure, and adopt moderate and stable domestic and foreign policies so that they can integrate into the international community at the right time.

He also said that China has asked the Taliban to resolutely fight terrorism and live in harmony with all countries in the world, especially neighbouring countries, and integrate with the international community as soon as possible.

In response to the question of whether China now recognises the Taliban government, the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that China has always believed that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community.

However, since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, no country has recognised the group's rule.

On the third day of the Vienna meeting, Manawi expressed optimism and considered the plan a source of hope.

On Tuesday, on his X social media platform, he congratulated the people of Afghanistan on reaching the agreement during the third day of the Vienna meeting.

Previously, he had stated that the third meeting of opponents of the Taliban, held in Vienna, Austria, is another opportunity for leading anti-Taliban figures to exchange views.

The "Vienna Meeting for a Democratic Afghanistan" began on Sunday, October 3, and ended on Tuesday.

At the meeting, leaders and representatives from 29 Afghan political parties and groups were in attendance. Additionally, representatives of several Western countries, including diplomats from the United States, the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Spain, and Norway have also participated in the meet. An adviser from the Islamic Republic of Iran's Embassy in Vienna was also present.

Since the Taliban’s takeover of power in Afghanistan, this is the third meeting of Taliban’s opponents in Vienna.

Charting a "roadmap" for discussing the future of Afghanistan was one of the main goals of the meeting.

Zakir Hussain Ershad, political activist and leader of Afghanistan Citizen Party, told Afghanistan International on Tuesday that these meetings are a platform for reaching consensus.

He stated that there have been serious discussions about the roadmap at the Vienna meeting. “There were differences of opinion, but after discussions and investigations, the satisfaction of the participants has been achieved," he said.

According to Ershad, "The roadmap outlines a plan to unite all opposition factions under one umbrella”.

He said that it is natural that all groups have their priorities, but what they all agree on is that they do not want the Taliban.

Experts say that organising these meetings requires the consent of influential powers, reflecting international dissatisfaction with the current state of Afghanistan under Taliban control.

The Taliban have consistently voiced their disapproval of these gatherings. Abbas Stanikzai, the Deputy of the Taliban's Foreign Ministry, has remarked that these meetings are held to "undermine and defame" the group.

He called the meetings "illegal" and said, "You have been tested; Your time is over now."

However, they expressed uncertainty about the reason for her transfer to the hospital.

A number of women wrote on social media that Parsi was taken to the hospital "with a poor physical and mental condition caused by brutal torture in the Taliban's prison”.

Sources, including one close to Parsi's family, have confirmed her transfer to the hospital. However, the Taliban has not provided any details to her family regarding the reason for the transfer, the nature of the illness, or the physical condition of this women's rights activist.

Sources said that Parsi's family is not aware of the hospital where she is receiving treatment.

On September 27, Parsi and her child were arrested by the Taliban from her house in Kabul. She was the head of the Spontaneous Movement of Afghan Women in Kabul, which protested against the discrimination and deprivation of women under the rule of the Taliban.

On October 31, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that the Taliban continue to detain, threaten and torture women protestors in Afghanistan.

The organisation stated that many families, by choosing not to publicise the detainment of these activists, hope for their release or reduced harassment.

According to HRW, the number of protesting women in Taliban detention centres is higher. However, neither their families nor anyone else is adequately informed about the situation of these women.

The organisation had expressed concerns about the continued detention and wellbeing of Zhulia Parsi, Neda Parwani, Manizha Sediqi, and Parisa Azada in Taliban prisons.