Over 900,000 Afghans Return to Afghanistan This Year, Says Taliban

In a statement posted on the social media platform X on Saturday, Wong criticised the Taliban’s ban on women studying nursing and midwifery, warning that this decision “puts lives at risk.” She stressed that the move highlights the need to hold the Taliban accountable under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

“The Taliban’s actions underline the urgency of Australia’s efforts to seek accountability for their treatment of women under international law,” Wong remarked.

Australia, alongside Germany, the Netherlands, and Canada, was among the first nations to announce plans to file a formal complaint against the Taliban at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Over 20 countries have now expressed their support for prosecuting the Taliban for gender-based violations.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently announced an ongoing investigation into gender-based persecution of women in Afghanistan, with findings expected to be released soon. ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan recently met with several women activists and assured them that “good news” is forthcoming.

The Taliban’s leader ordered the closure of medical training institutions for women and girls last week, triggering widespread international condemnation. However, Taliban officials in Kabul have yet to comment on the decision.

Amarkhil, who served as the last governor of Nangarhar under the previous government, handed over the provincial administration to the Taliban without confrontation just days before the fall of Kabul. A close ally of former President Ashraf Ghani, Amarkhil continues to reside in Afghanistan.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X on Saturday, Amarkhil noted that over the past three years, Taliban officials have prioritised fostering good relations with the international community. While acknowledging the importance of international relations, he criticised the regime for sidelining domestic concerns.

“The first step to gaining global legitimacy is achieving domestic legitimacy,” Amarkhil emphasised.

He further argued that the credibility of any government relies on the trust and confidence of its people, adding, “This trust cannot be earned through force and fear but by addressing the people’s demands and paying attention to them.”

In its new report released on Wednesday (December 4), the World Bank had said that Afghanistan's economy is not in a safe situation and although it has grown modestly, it is still facing serious challenges.

The international organisation cited financial constraints, trade imbalances, and limited public investment capacity as among the economic challenges facing Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

In addition to the components affecting economic growth, the report emphasised on the role of women's economic participation in long-term recovery and reducing vulnerability to future economic shocks.

While the Taliban has imposed severe job restrictions on women since coming to power, in addition to banning education, causing unemployment for thousands of women working in various sectors, the report identifies women's participation as a key factor for economic growth.

In a part of the report, the World Bank pointed to the growth of GDP, the increase in the Afghani currency against foreign currencies, the decline in food prices, and the growth of domestic industries. However, the Taliban stated that the statistics of economic growth and progress are higher than these.

The Taliban's statement pointed to projects such as the Qosh Tapa Canal, TAPI project, the construction of highways, dams, and railways routes, and claimed that "415 billion afghanis" have been invested in the field of mines.

The Taliban has called on the international community to engage positively with Afghanistan with a "real understanding of the facts”.

The Taliban did not specify whether these refugee families returned to Afghanistan voluntarily or forcibly.

According to the Bakhtar news agency, 16 families returned to Afghanistan through Torkham, 28 families through Spin Boldak in Kandahar, 19 families through the Nimroz Silk Bridge, and 39 families through Islam Qala in Herat.

The Islamic Republic and Pakistan have increased pressure on Afghan refugees in recent months, detaining and deporting them.

After the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, hundreds of thousands of citizens sought refuge in Iran and Pakistan.

Observers said that Afghan refugees face serious difficulties in meeting basic needs and shelter after being forcibly returned from neighbouring countries.

The court wrote that the defendants were sentenced to 20-39 lashes. They have also been sentenced to one to two years in prison.

On Saturday, December 7, the Taliban's Supreme Court wrote that the defendants were flogged in the presence of representatives of government institutions, court clients, and the general public.

According to the Taliban's Supreme Court newsletters, the group has punished nearly 20 people with public flogging in the past week alone.

Despite the objections of international organisations to corporal punishment and torture of defendants, the Taliban has continued to punish them with flogging. The group considers the flogging of defendants in public to be an order of "Islamic law”.