Taliban Lacks Authority To Reject ICC Jurisdiction, Says Afghan Envoy

She attributed the situation to the “disastrous withdrawal” of U.S. forces from Afghanistan during President Joe Biden’s administration.

Speaking to The Washington Post about the impact of the suspension of U.S. foreign aid on Afghan women’s education, Kelly remarked, “Joe Biden’s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal allowed the Taliban to conduct a hostile takeover of the country’s government and impose medieval Sharia law policies.”

According to the report, numerous educational initiatives for Afghan women—including online courses and international scholarship programmes—have been suspended due to the halt in U.S. foreign aid.

Between 2005 and 2019, the United States invested approximately $167 million in the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF), which has been a major provider of online education for Afghan women. The institution, now operating from Doha, Qatar, has announced the suspension of its Spring 2025 semester, a decision that will affect nearly 700 students.

Similarly, the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh, which had become a refuge for Afghan female students, has postponed the admission of 330 new students due to funding cuts. Many Afghan women who had planned to study abroad now face an uncertain future.

International organisations and human rights groups have expressed deep concern over the consequences of the aid suspension, particularly for Afghan women and girls.

The crisis was exacerbated when U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office, suspending all U.S. foreign aid. The decision has significantly impacted humanitarian and educational programmes worldwide.

Beyond education, experts warn of severe economic ramifications for Afghanistan. The Center for Global Development, a Washington-based think tank, estimated last week that if U.S. aid remains suspended for a year, Afghanistan’s gross national income could decline by up to seven percent.

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.