Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has called on the Taliban to uphold their commitments to human rights and counterterrorism, particularly with regard to the rights of women and girls.
Speaking at the 51st session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul on Saturday, Dar stressed Afghanistan’s critical role in regional peace and stability.
Dar emphasized that Afghanistan remains vital to regional peace, while also urging continued humanitarian support for the Afghan people, the unfreezing of Afghan assets, and the enhancement of regional connectivity to help restore stability in the country.
He noted that Pakistan remains in active diplomatic contact with the Taliban administration and recently upgraded its diplomatic representation in Kabul to ambassadorial level.
Dar urged the Taliban to abide by their international commitments, emphasizing that they must fulfill their pledges on counterterrorism and respect for human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls.
Before returning to power in 2021, some Taliban representatives had pledged support for women’s education and employment during intra-Afghan talks in Doha. However, since seizing control, the group has banned girls from attending secondary school and university and imposed sweeping restrictions on women’s participation in public life.
The Taliban maintain that women’s rights, including access to education, are internal matters and have rejected external pressure on the issue. Nonetheless, regional actors, including the OIC, have publicly stated that bans on female education are inconsistent with Islamic teachings.
Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban have risen over the past two years, with Islamabad accusing the Taliban of harbouring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and Baloch separatists. In turn, the Taliban have accused Pakistan of supporting ISIS elements within Afghanistan.
Relations between the two sides have recently improved, aided by Chinese mediation. Last month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted a trilateral meeting with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar to encourage greater cooperation.
