Taliban Objects to Afghanistan's Characterisation As Potential Threat Abroad

On Friday, Iodice wrote on her X social media platform, "I congratulate my Afghan sisters for their resilience, strength, and achievements all along."

“If women are working together - united, informed, and educated – they can bring real change and prosperity,” she said.

Following the takeover of power in August 2021, the Taliban imposed extensive restrictions on women. Over the past two and a half years, human rights advocates inside and outside Afghanistan have called for the repeal of these restrictions.

Despite the ongoing suppression of protests by the Taliban, advocacy and demonstrations continue. In the most recent incident on Friday, a group of young women in Takhar marched through the streets, voicing slogans against the Taliban.

Videos received by Afghanistan International show women in the march stating that on International Women's Day, Afghan women are imprisoned. They chanted, "Anti-women government be overthrown”.

In a statement released on Friday, the front stated that three other Taliban fighters had also been wounded in the attacks.

As per the statement, in an assault by the NRF forces on a Taliban vehicle in Herat city, three Taliban members were killed, and two others were injured.

On the other hand, in a separate attack on a vehicle transporting the chief of staff of the Taliban division in Bagram, the target was killed and the driver sustained injuries.

The front added that its forces did not suffer any casualties in these attacks.

In the past two days, this has been the third attack against Taliban forces reported by the National Resistance Front.

On Thursday, in an attack by the forces of the National Resistance Front in Takhar, three Taliban members were killed.

These announcements are being distributed in both Pashto and Urdu languages.

Torkham is one of the busiest routes for traders and people, especially patients.

The decision by Pakistan marks the end of a period during which travellers could cross the border with other documents, such as agreements from the British Indian passport era and national identity cards.

Pakistani sources in Torkham informed the Pashto section of Afghanistan International that Pakistan will enforce the visa requirement for Afghan patients and drivers.

Previously, Pakistan had made at least three attempts to condition the crossing of Afghan patients and drivers on having a Pakistani visa, however, it has not been successfully implemented.

According to information received by Afghanistan International, Pakistani authorities held a meeting in Torkham three days ago to implement their recent decision.

Afghan drivers in Torkham told the Pashto section of Afghanistan International that the visa requirement would pose a problem for them.

A source told Afghanistan International, "Obtaining a Pakistani visa is quite challenging these days. On one hand, trade condition is not favourable and on the other hand, visa conditions are adding to the hardships.”

“On International Women’s Day, I stand with the women and girls of Afghanistan who face an unparalleled level of institutional and systematic discrimination,” he said.

In a statement, he expressed his salutation for Afghan women’s bravery, creativity, and leadership in demanding their rights.

He urged the Taliban to respect all the human rights of women and girls, including their right to education and work.

The UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan emphasised on meaningful and equal participation of women and girls in all aspects of social life.

Bennett called on the Taliban to immediately and unconditionally release all those who have been arbitrary detained for human rights, especially women’s and girl’s rights.

Following the takeover of power in August 2021, the Taliban has imposed extensive restrictions on women. Over the past two and a half years, numerous human rights defenders both inside and outside Afghanistan have called for the repeal of these restrictions.

Although the Taliban has consistently suppressed protests and demonstrations, in the latest incident, on Friday, a group of young women in Takhar took to the streets, chanting slogans against the Taliban.

Videos received by Afghanistan International show women in the march stating that on International Women's Day, Afghan women are imprisoned. They chanted, "Anti-women government be overthrown.”

On International Women's Day, March 8, Davidian emphasised that the plight of Afghan women and girls must remain a focal point for international attention and intervention.

She pointed out that the opportunities for Afghan women and girls to escape war, poverty, and isolation are alarmingly diminishing.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released a statement on March 8, reinforcing the call to remove restrictions on women. It highlighted that Afghanistan faces a greater risk of deepening poverty and further isolation if these restrictions are not lifted.

In the statement, Roza Otunbayeva, head of UNAMA, argued for an increase in investment in Afghan women.

She remarked that the present circumstances in Afghanistan are severely and deliberately damaging Afghan women and girls, thereby obstructing the nation's path to sustainable peace and prosperity.

Otunbayeva also voiced concerns over the Taliban's recent arbitrary detentions of women and girls, allegedly for non-compliance with the group's dress code, pushing them towards more isolation.

The United Nations has stated that the Taliban's constraints on Afghan women breach Afghanistan's commitments to international human rights standards.

The UN's statement disclosed that currently, over 12 million women in Afghanistan are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

Even as the world marks International Women's Day, under the Taliban's rule of over two years, women have been stripped of numerous rights via a series of decrees.

The Taliban has barred women and girls from attending universities and schools beyond the sixth grade, in addition to imposing wide-ranging restrictions on their employment, mobility, and travel, drastically curtailing their participation in public life.

Furthermore, Afghan women have sporadically staged protests in both public and private spheres against the Taliban's oppressive policies, leading to several arrests by the regime.

Numerous organisations, specialists, and human rights advocates argue that the Taliban's discriminatory practices against Afghan women amount to "gender apartheid" and are calling for its official acknowledgment.