Former AIHRC Chairperson Highlights Human Rights Violations In Afghanistan At UN Meet

This enduring prohibition, despite domestic protests and international calls for change, marks a significant setback in women's rights in the country.

Afghanistan International reported that a number of female students feel they have lost their future and hope due to this ban. One of them, Bano, a journalism student, had her studies halted with the Taliban's ascent to power and the closure of university doors. She expressed despair over her restricted life, confined to her home, and the detrimental impact this has had on her mental health.

On 20 December 2022, the Taliban's Ministry of Higher Education announced the suspension of girls' university education until further notice. Since then, the regime has not only refrained from reopening educational institutions for women but has also imposed additional limitations on their social life.

Other female students have voiced strong opposition to any recognition of the Taliban administration, arguing that such engagement would further undermine the plight of Afghan girls.

Moreover, just days after shutting down universities for female students, the Taliban also prohibited women from working in non-governmental organisations in Afghanistan. This move further illustrates the group's restrictive stance on women's rights and freedoms.

Despite ongoing internal resistance and external pressures, the Taliban remains unmoved in their stance, continuing to deny Afghan women and girls access to education and professional opportunities.

Muttaqi emphasised the growing ties between the Taliban and Russia, expressing gratitude for Russia's support in international forums and advocating for stronger economic connections. The Taliban, as per a statement issued on Wednesday by Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the group’s foreign ministry spokesperson, is prepared to assist the transit of Russian goods to South Asia by reconstructing the Salang tunnel.

Kabulov, highlighting the evolving geopolitical landscape, stated that new regional mechanisms should not be implemented without the Taliban's consent. He encouraged nations with grievances against Afghanistan to engage directly with the Taliban for resolution.

The statement did not specify any countries or detail the mentioned mechanisms. However, it noted Kabulov's call for the U.S. to release Afghanistan's frozen foreign exchange reserves, aiming to bolster the Afghan economy.

Moscow, while maintaining strong ties with the Taliban, has stopped short of officially recognising their government. It recently hosted a gathering of Taliban opposition groups titled “Afghanistan between the Past and the Future”, backed by A Just Russia Party and the country’s Academy of Sciences. The event saw intense critique of the Taliban's policies.

Kirby also called the claims about leaving US weapons in Afghanistan a "fallacy and farce".

Following the increase in attacks by militant groups, especially the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) against Pakistan security forces, some officials in the country claimed that US weapons left in Afghanistan were used in such attacks.

Last month, Pakistani media outlets quoted officials of the country, as saying that weapons left in Afghanistan, including those of the United States, were utilised in an attack on a training air base in Mianwali, Punjab.

Pakistan’s Interim Prime Minister, Anwar Haq Kakar, had also said that weapons left by the US in Afghanistan are used against Pakistan, China, Iran, and other countries in the region.

Kakar added that the new and advanced US equipment in Afghanistan can be dangerous for the regional countries. According to him, the US’ hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan resulted in weapons from the former government and American forces falling into the hands of various armed groups beyond the Taliban.

On Tuesday, Kirby said that he didn’t see the reports about the use of US weapons in Pakistan and could not verify them.

However, he explained that the US forces did not leave any equipment in Afghanistan, and the weapons that reached the hands of the Afghan Taliban belonged to the security forces of the previous government.

He added that the 20-year presence of the US in Afghanistan was armed and helped to equip the Afghan national security forces.

Kirby said that as the Taliban advanced, many former Afghan security forces decided not to fight and laid down their weapons.

Last week, Pakistani security forces announced the seizure of advanced US weapons from an incoming shipment from Afghanistan at the Torkham crossing.

According to Torkham customs officials, these weapons include AK-47s, grenades, night vision devices and thousands of bullets.

Pakistani security forces announced the seizure of these smuggled weapons just a day after a terrorist attack in Dera Ismail Khan resulted in the death of 23 Pakistani soldiers.

According to a Pentagon report, the US provided $18.6 billion worth of military equipment to the Afghan national army and security forces from 2005 to August 2021.

According to reports, after the withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan, equipment valued at 7.12 billion dollars remained in the country.

According to the sources, these group members who have been arrested in the last two years, have various charges against them such as adultery, rape, murder, and membership in ISIS.

It has been said that some of the detainees are accused of kidnapping for ransom.

Over the past two years, the Taliban has published many reports of freeing individuals held hostage by kidnappers. There was a widespread belief among the public that these kidnappers were affiliated with the Taliban. Additionally, reports received by Afghanistan International indicate that members of the Taliban have been involved in various crimes, including theft, murder, and rape.

The group has consistently denied any association with criminals. However, the recent findings show that the group members’ criminality has been confirmed by the government of the group. Despite this acknowledgment, the group is reluctant to disclose their identities and affiliations in order to preserve its public image.

Sources said that individuals accused of being members of ISIS are held in Taliban intelligence detention centres, while others are incarcerated at the Pul-e-Charkhi prison.

The Taliban imposes punishments on ordinary people for charges such as adultery (sex outside of marriage) and same-sex relationships (sodomy). However, there have been no published reports of members of the group facing punishment for such accusations.

At the 16th Parliamentary Assembly of the organisation in Moscow, Tasmagambetov said that the southern borders of Central Asia are facing direct threat.

He emphasised on the need for coordinated efforts to address the challenges posed by the current situation in Afghanistan.

He also said that following the recent meeting of the CSTO’s Security Council, the heads of the member states agreed to accelerate and finalise the draft of intergovernmental targeted programme aimed at reinforcing sections of the Tajik-Afghan border.

In a part of his speech, Tasmagambetov said that CSTO is going to hold an important military exercise in 2024.

He declared equipping the CSTO forces with modern weapon and military equipment as one of the most important tasks of the organisation.

CSTO’s Secretary General explained that a total of seven exercises have been planned with the participation of Collective Rapid Reaction, Peacekeeping and Logistics forces.

According to him, these exercises are supposed to be held in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, as well as in Tajikistan.

Tasmagambetov emphasised that work will be strengthened to improve mechanisms to counter a wide range of transnational challenges and threats.

Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan are members of the CSTO. The organisation have held several joint military exercises near the Afghan border in the past two years.

In an interview with TASS news agency on Sunday, Semyon Grigoryev, Russia's ambassador to Tajikistan, said that the Taliban have not been able to secure the borders yet. He said that many times the extremists tried to infiltrate Tajikistan from Afghanistan in 2023.