Doha Agreement Empowered Taliban, Says US State Department Spokesperson

Bennett presented a distressing overview of the human rights conditions in Afghanistan, denouncing the extensive torture and discrimination faced by women and ethnic groups.

During the 55th session of the Human Rights Council, Bennett delivered a six-month report characterising the human rights situation in Afghanistan as extremely critical. He underscored the importance of prioritising the Afghan populace, advocating for their needs and rights to lead the agenda.

Bennett voiced the apprehensions of the Afghan people regarding the potential normalisation of relationships with the Taliban by various countries, without any substantial improvement in the country's humanitarian crisis.

Highlighting Afghan Women's Rights

Bennett called for attention to the Taliban's egregious human rights violations, urging the international community to employ judicial measures to ensure gender, ethnic, and religious justice in Afghanistan.

He reminded the members of Afghanistan's commitment to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and called upon member states to hold the Taliban accountable at the International Court of Justice in The Hague for violating this convention.

He reported that the Taliban's suppression and exclusion of women and girls amount to "sexual harassment," a crime against humanity under international law. While some have labeled these actions as "gender apartheid," Bennett chose not to use this term explicitly. Nevertheless, he stressed on the Taliban's systematic discrimination aimed at asserting total control over Afghan women and girls.

The UN Special Rapporteur demanded accountability from the Taliban for their policies and deeds and urged for global efforts to swiftly support Afghan women and girls. He also highlighted the increasing instances of suicide and depression among women and girls, exacerbated by the enforcement of the Taliban's strict dress code, labelling it as a significant stressor for women in Afghanistan.

Violations of Civil Liberties

Bennett observed that the Taliban's intolerance towards dissent has significantly restricted civic space in Afghanistan. He called for the immediate release of detained educators, human rights advocates, journalists, and artists, including Fahim Azizi, Manizha Siddiqi, and Sadiqullah Afghan, from Taliban custody.

Torture and Inhumane Punishment

The Special Rapporteur confirmed the Taliban's policy of detaining and torturing security forces, noting their disregard for a general amnesty previously declared for former government officials and security forces. He detailed instances of torture, prisoner mistreatment, and degrading punishments that violate human dignity, including public executions and lashings, which contravene Afghanistan's international obligations.

Pressure on Ethnic and Religious Minorities

Bennett highlighted the increased pressures faced by ethnic and religious minorities in Afghanistan, particularly the Hazara Shia community, which has seen a rise in targeted attacks by ISIS. It seems that the efforts of Hazara activists and their allies in bringing international attention to the discrimination against this community, including through "Hazara genocide" campaigns have been important in their plight for justice.

Children's plight under Taliban Rule

Bennett addressed the ban on education for girls above the sixth grade and the deteriorating conditions for Afghan children. He pointed out that this educational ban has led to an increase in child labour, forced and underage marriages.

Expressing shock at the high rates of suicide among young girls in southern Afghanistan, Bennett revealed that some reports indicate that half of these suicides occur among young girls.

At the Human Rights Council session, member countries unanimously criticised the Taliban's human rights record. Even Pakistan, a long-standing ally of the Taliban, expressed concern over the deteriorating human rights conditions under their rule. Other Muslim nations, including Iran, Turkey, and Indonesia, demanded an end to the Taliban's discriminatory policies against women in education and employment, challenging the Taliban's justification of these policies as aligning with Sharia and Afghan cultural values.

Bennett concluded by noting that the Taliban's stance on Sharia law complicates the plight of Afghan women, calling for international action to address these pressing human rights issues.

On Wednesday, which aligns with the fourth anniversary of the Doha Agreement, Jean-Pierre said that the Taliban have not fulfilled their obligations in the agreement.

The Doha Agreement, signed on February 29, 2020, between the United States and the Taliban, is viewed by high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as the primary catalyst for the collapse of the former government in this country.

During the press conference, Jean-Pierre stated, “The Taliban has also not fulfilled their Doha commitment to engage in a meaningful dialogue with fellow Afghans leading to a negotiated settlement and inclusive political system.”

She emphasised that the US would continue to hold the Taliban to fulfill their commitments.

Nevertheless, the Taliban has said that they have fulfilled their obligations under the Doha Agreement.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the group's spokesperson, stated on Thursday to Radio Television Afghanistan, now under Taliban control, that "the general principles of the Doha Agreement have been implemented, and certain aspects of it have been violated by the US”.

In an interview with Afghanistan International, she criticised the Doha agreement as being notably weak.

Curtis, a senior policymaker in Donald Trump's administration during the signing of the Doha Agreement in February 2020, contributed to shaping the United States' policy towards Afghanistan at that time.

She stated that the Doha agreement greatly favoured the Taliban, as it did not require the group to cut ties with terrorist organisations.

According to her, the agreement merely urged the Taliban to refrain from permitting attacks on US interests by terrorists.

She said that this agreement has, in fact, bolstered the fragile Taliban.

Curtis expressed that, it is time to set the Doha agreement aside and explore new approaches in engaging with the Taliban. She advocates for a form of conditional engagement that exerts pressure on the Taliban to uphold the rights of women and girls.

This former White House official underscored that the Doha Agreement failed to secure US security interests in Afghanistan and the region. Additionally, she noted an intensification of terrorist threats within Afghanistan, pointing to the increasing strength of the Khorasan branch of ISIS as a global threat, along with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and some Central Asian terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan.

According to her, after the signing of the Doha Agreement, the US is "not safer" and is not in a better position.

She stressed that the international community is not exerting sufficient efforts to hold the Taliban accountable for their actions.

The Doha Agreement between the US and the Taliban was signed on February 29, 2020. The agreement was reached after eighteen months of negotiations involving the US delegation led by Zalmay Khalilzad and the Taliban delegation led by Mullah Baradar.

According to their release, the Front's forces launched an offensive against a Taliban checkpoint in Nawbahar village, Baghlan, on Wednesday night.

There has been no response from the Taliban regarding the incident.

Under the leadership of Ahmad Massoud, the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan has declared its ongoing commitment to conduct precise strikes aimed at dismantling the Taliban and liberating the nation from its control.

As a prominent military and political group in opposition to the Taliban, the Front has executed several significant attacks against the Taliban forces throughout the last two and a half years.

Miller said that US officials have emphasised on the immediate and unconditional release of their citizens in meetings with Taliban representatives.

He made these statements on Wednesday in response to the question by Marzia Hosseini, a reporter of Afghanistan International in Washington.

On Sunday, February 25, an 84-year-old Austrian citizen was freed from Taliban captivity through the mediation of Qatar. He had traveled to Afghanistan last year and had been detained by the Taliban on charges of espionage.

Miller commented on the situation of Ryan Corbett, a US citizen held captive by the Taliban since 2022, stating, "US officials have consistently and persistently advocated, including in meetings with Taliban representatives, for the immediate and unconditional release of Americans detained in Afghanistan."

Earlier, Morgan McGarvey, congressman, also demanded the immediate release of Ryan Corbett from Taliban detention.

Corbett, his wife, and three children lived in Kabul since 2010 and left Afghanistan in August 2021. Corbett's family said the Taliban arrested him on August 10, 2022, while on a business trip to Kabul, along with a German and two Afghan colleagues.

In the past, the Taliban has used detained US citizens to exchange with its imprisoned members.