Cheryl Benard, author and wife of former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, said she would “celebrate and eat ice cream” if Afghan women were freed from Taliban rule, urging Afghans to resist gender apartheid from within the country.
In an exclusive interview with Afghanistan International, Benard said that she was aware of criticism from Afghan women who accuse her of downplaying Taliban repression. She said those seeking to remain in the United States are choosing freedom, while many European countries are now pursuing deportation of Afghan refugees.
Benard said meaningful change would only come if Afghans return and challenge Taliban rule from within. “If Afghan refugees return and fight gender apartheid from within, I would support them,” she said, accusing some educated Afghan women of abandoning their less-privileged counterparts.
She described the situation in Afghanistan as gender apartheid but argued that, like apartheid-era South Africa, internal resistance is key. While criticising the Taliban’s policies on women’s education, which she called “unacceptable,” Benard said the group reflects rural and Pashtun traditions the West failed to reform during its 20-year presence.
Benard claimed security in Afghanistan is currently the best it has been in 15 years and disputed reports of widespread violence against women and former officials. She urged Afghan intellectuals to remain in the country and work toward change rather than rely on international intervention.
Describing the Taliban as pragmatic actors seeking global legitimacy, Benard said they understand that harming returnees would hurt their international standing.
