Afghan Women Suffer Under Taliban’s Medieval Laws, Says White House

A letter from the IRC to the Taliban’s Ministry of Economy, obtained by Afghanistan International, indicated that reduced financial support from some donors had impacted the organisation, as it has impacted other humanitarian agencies operating in Afghanistan. The letter stated that the situation would lead to adjustments in operational methods and reductions in both local and international staff.

Despite the funding challenges, the IRC reaffirmed its commitment to Afghanistan, stating that it is actively seeking new financial resources. The organisation plans to maintain its presence in the provinces under its coverage by restructuring its operations to ensure continued service delivery.

On Wednesday, the IRC confirmed that it is implementing significant cost-cutting measures, including laying off thousands of employees worldwide.

“We have had to take immediate and significant cost-cutting measures, including laying off and furloughing thousands of IRC personnel around the world,” the statement read.

The organisation attributed the decision to the suspension of most foreign aid programmes and difficulties in accessing payments through the U.S. government’s financial system.

Last week, David Miliband, the IRC’s CEO, warned employees in a separate letter about an initial round of unpaid leave placements and imminent layoffs.

The IRC also announced the cancellation of a previously planned 2 percent salary increase for employees in some countries and a 20 percent reduction in leadership salaries.

Further cost-cutting measures include a hiring freeze, restrictions on travel, and the elimination of non-essential procurement.

The IRC had previously stated that it employs over 17,000 people globally. According to Miliband’s letter, approximately 42 percent of the IRC’s 2025 budget—around $650 million—was expected to be funded by the U.S. government.

According to the report, 25 Afghan nationals were executed in 2023, while 16 were executed in 2022. The Norway-based human rights organisation accused the Iranian authorities of intensifying repression against Afghan citizens and implementing increasingly “discriminatory” policies.

Afghan citizens executed in Iran faced various charges. The report stated that 39 were executed on drug-related offences, while 31 were sentenced to death for murder under qisas (retribution laws). Additionally, nine were executed on charges of rape.

The organisation further reported that 24 of the executed Afghans were not properly identified, with only their first names recorded. One Afghan citizen was publicly hanged in front of a crowd.

The report indicated that Afghan nationals were executed in prisons across 15 Iranian provinces, with 31 executions taking place in Alborz/Tehran prisons. However, only six of these executions were officially announced by Iranian authorities.

The Iran Human Rights organisation highlighted that Afghans constitute the largest group of non-Iranians executed or sentenced to death in Iranian prisons.

In 2021, there were no recorded executions of Afghan citizens in Iran until September. However, within a span of just 35 days, five Afghan men were executed.

On October 2021, the organisation warned that the Taliban’s return to power had created conditions that facilitated the execution of Afghan citizens in Iran. The report noted that executions of Afghans have significantly increased since the Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan.

The organisation also stated that there is no official data on the total number of Afghan death row prisoners in Iran. However, estimates suggest that the number is particularly high in prisons in the country’s eastern regions.

Additionally, the report pointed out that Afghan executions are rarely publicised by Iranian authorities, and many of those sentenced to death lack family networks or legal representation to advocate on their behalf. Consequently, the organisation believes the actual number of executions is likely higher than officially recorded figures.

In January, Abdul Malik Haqqani, the administrative deputy of the Taliban’s Supreme Court, led a delegation to Iran and formally requested a list of Afghan prisoners on death row.

During his visit, the Taliban official urged the Iranian government to “show leniency toward Afghan prisoners based on Islamic brotherhood” and to consider alternative punishments instead of the death penalty.

In an exclusive interview with Canadian-American journalist Catherine Herridge, Rubio warned that contested governance in Afghanistan creates opportunities for terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS to operate.

Addressing concerns about the presence of these groups, Rubio stated: “Anytime you have governing spaces that are contested, where there isn’t full control over every part of the territory, it creates an opportunity for these groups.”

He noted that the key difference between the current situation and a decade ago is the absence of U.S. forces in the region to conduct counterterrorism operations.

The Secretary of State acknowledged that in some instances, the Taliban has cooperated with requests to pursue ISIS and Al-Qaeda but stressed that this cooperation has been inconsistent. He further emphasised that while the situation is not identical to the pre-9/11 period, the current level of uncertainty poses serious risks.

Rubio also pointed out that concerns about terrorist resurgence extend beyond Afghanistan, citing Syria as another area of instability. He highlighted that while many are pleased that Bashar al-Assad is no longer in power, around 8,000 ISIS members are currently held in Syrian prisons. He warned that any further regional instability could lead to their release, exacerbating security threats.

On Tuesday, Reuters, citing informed sources, reported that officials in the office responsible for coordinating Afghan resettlement efforts had been instructed to prepare for its closure by April. If implemented, the directive would prevent approximately 200,000 eligible Afghan refugees from entering the United States.

McCaul, a Republican member of the House of Representatives and a supporter of former President Donald Trump, posted on X on Thursday that while he backs efforts to reduce federal government spending, the Afghan refugee resettlement office should not be included in these budget cuts.

“During its chaotic and deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Biden administration abandoned tens of thousands of our Afghan allies who fought and bled alongside our military,” McCaul stated.

He urged the U.S. Secretary of State to prioritise honouring commitments made to Afghan allies who had risked their lives supporting U.S. operations in Afghanistan.

Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Taliban army chief, denied any divisions among the group’s leadership, while Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister, urged the public to disregard media reports about internal discord. The high-profile attendance at the event appeared to be a serious effort to project unity and downplay growing concerns over internal rifts.

Following Mullah Baradar’s trip to Doha, the United Nations Security Council confirmed that he had travelled to Qatar for a one-month medical treatment, with a temporary travel exemption granted from 9 February to 3 March 2025.

Although the Taliban has not disclosed details about his illness or treatment, Baradar attended Thursday’s healthcare centre inauguration at Daoud Khan Hospital in Kabul. His presence suggests he may have cut short his medical trip to Doha and returned to Afghanistan.

Without directly addressing reports of internal disputes, Baradar stated: “Obedience and respect are fundamental principles in the Islamic Emirate and will continue under any circumstances. The Emirate remains focused on implementing Sharia, rebuilding the country, and ensuring the nation’s well-being.”

He also urged the international community to engage with the Taliban, arguing that political and economic pressure would benefit no one.

Mullah Yaqub, the Taliban’s defence minister, had not been seen in public since 25 January, when he met with Iran’s foreign minister in Kabul. Nearly a month later, he reappeared at the healthcare centre inauguration, where he reiterated the Taliban’s commitment to engaging with the international community while adhering to Islamic values.

“We do not want Afghans to be forced into migration again; we must stand against these challenges,” he said, adding that the country’s problems should be resolved “without making things worse.”

Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Taliban army chief, who had reportedly avoided his office in recent weeks due to security threats, also attended the event. He dismissed reports of internal rifts, saying, “There are no divisions among the Islamic Emirate’s leadership. These are merely rumours spread by our opponents.”

He further rejected claims of ethnic bias within the Taliban, asserting that positions are assigned based on merit.

Referring to the recent opposition gathering in Vienna, Fitrat declared: “There is no Afghanistan after the Taliban,” and insisted that any notion of a post-Taliban Afghanistan was a “delusion.” He accused opposition figures at the Vienna meeting of lacking genuine public support and urged Taliban critics to return to Afghanistan, claiming that the group had established security and eliminated discrimination.

Analysts believe the public appearance of key Taliban figures at the healthcare centre was a calculated move to counter growing reports of internal discord and defection within the group.

Reports of deepening divisions within the Taliban leadership have intensified, particularly following the escape of Abbas Stanekzai, the deputy foreign minister, who had openly criticised Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada over policies oppressing Afghan women.

Sources indicate that the Taliban leader initially barred Stanekzai from leaving the country and issued an arrest warrant, but with the help of senior Taliban figures, he managed to flee Kabul.

Meanwhile, Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, was last seen 37 days ago during a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s ambassador in Kabul. On 21 January, the Taliban announced that Haqqani, along with Abdul Haq Wasiq, the group’s intelligence chief, had travelled to the UAE. The UN Security Council later confirmed that he had received permission to perform Hajj. Unverified reports suggest that Haqqani has since returned to Khost on a private flight from the UAE.

Afghanistan International recently obtained an audio recording of Abdul Hakim Sharei, the Taliban’s justice minister, in which he criticised widespread corruption within the group and claimed to have submitted his resignation, though it was not accepted.

Sources confirmed that Sharei has since travelled to Dubai. Following these reports, the Taliban’s justice ministry stated that he had left for medical treatment under orders from the group’s leader.

International media have widely reported that tensions within the Taliban are escalating due to Hibatullah Akhundzada’s hardline policies. The UK-based Telegraph recently reported that Akhundzada is at odds with key figures such as Sirajuddin Haqqani, Mullah Yaqub, and Abbas Stanekzai over the Taliban’s bans on women’s education and employment. The newspaper suggested that these disagreements could lead to further fractures within the group’s leadership.