The US State Department said that any significant step towards normalising relations with the Taliban is contingent upon a profound change in the group's behaviour.
A State Department spokesperson made these remarks in response to a question from Aref Yaqubi, a reporter of Afghanistan International, regarding what practical steps the US is taking in response to the Taliban's treatment of imprisoned women and serious human rights violations.
The department, in its annual report on the status of women in Afghanistan released on Monday, noted that the Taliban's decrees have effectively marginalised women from the public sphere.
The report underscores widespread violations of women's rights and instances of sexual violence perpetrated against them. It reveals that 16 out of 90 imprisoned women in Jowzjan, Farah, and Samangan provinces have reported pregnancies resulting from rape by Taliban members. Additionally, the report indicates that the Taliban has executed at least four women in Samangan after repeated instances of rape.
Regarding potential action in response to this report, the US State Department did not provide specifics. However, it reaffirmed the US government's commitment to supporting the rights of Afghan women and girls. It aims to enhance economic opportunities for Afghan women through increased access to opportunities both within Afghanistan and in third countries.
The department emphasised on the US government's support for Afghan women's participation in the country's economy as a means to promote gender equality and foster economic growth.
Furthermore, the department highlighted its efforts to assist Afghan women and girls through various means, including facilitating access to higher education opportunities via scholarships and financial aid. It also mentioned providing skills training for continued education, both domestically and internationally, to empower Afghan women and girls.
Sanctions on Taliban Officials
The State Department also mentioned that, in response to the Taliban's restrictions on women, it took action in February 2023 by imposing visa restrictions on certain current and former Taliban officials, as well as individuals involved in suppressing Afghan women and girls' access to education and employment opportunities within non-governmental organisations.
Furthermore, on December 8 2023, the US Treasury Department sanctioned two Taliban members due to their involvement in severe human rights violations, notably the obstruction of girls' access to secondary education.
Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban's Minister of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, was among those sanctioned for his participation in human rights abuses, including murder, abduction, flogging, and physical assault against Afghan citizens, including women and girls.
Additionally, the department stated that Farid-ud-Din Mahmood, the head of the TAliban’s Academy of Sciences, faced sanctions for his role in serious human rights violations associated with the publication, and enforcement of measures aimed at restricting education for all Afghan women and girls based solely on their gender.
