AFF Calls For International Political Process To Transition Away From Taliban Rule

Amanda McGregor, Australia’s special representative for Afghanistan, noted that Afghan political groups have united around fundamental principles.

According to her, these principles include national sovereignty, democratic governance and the guarantee of human rights for all Afghan citizens, especially women and girls.

Writing on X on Wednesday, McGregor said that it is encouraging to see Afghan political groups uniting around fundamental principles for their country’s future; principles achieved through Afghan-led dialogue, including national sovereignty, democratic governance and the realisation of human rights for all Afghans, including women and girls.

She emphasised the need for continued alliances that include active participation of women and women’s groups.

Her remarks came after, on Tuesday, the High National Resistance for Salvation of Afghanistan, the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, the National Assembly for the Salvation of Afghanistan and the National Movement for Peace and Justice of Afghanistan issued a joint statement during an online meeting titled “National Alignment of Afghan Political Parties and Movements.”

The statement stressed the priority of resolving Afghanistan’s crisis through dialogue and direct intra-Afghan negotiations. Coalition members called for lasting peace and the formation of a legitimate and inclusive system based on the will of the people.

The statement also underscored respect for human rights particularly the rights of women, ethnic groups and religious communities as well as transparent and effective management of humanitarian aid and measures to prevent its misuse.

According to Sputnik Tajikistan, Semrikov said Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have agreed to provide the equipment. He added that the parties are currently determining the necessary financial resources and that contracts are expected to begin this year.

Semrikov noted that Tajikistan has carried out substantial work under CSTO programmes aimed at strengthening its border with Afghanistan. Tajikistan shares a more than 1,300-kilometre border with Afghanistan.

In 2024, the CSTO approved an intergovernmental programme to reinforce the Tajik–Afghan frontier. Designed as a five-year plan, it includes a series of measures to tighten border control, modernise infrastructure and equip Tajik border forces with modern security technology.

The first phase began in 2025, and significant progress has already been made in delivering weapons and military equipment.

Tajikistan previously confirmed that five people were killed in cross-border attacks originating from Afghanistan. Following the incidents, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon ordered the country’s security agencies to review measures to strengthen border security.

Earlier, local sources in Badakhshan told Afghanistan International that on Sunday evening, 30 November, two Chinese citizens were attacked near Shadak village, a border region in Tajikistan.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, 10 December, to mark International Human Rights Day, UNAMA said: “Women and girls continue to face severe restrictions on education, employment and participation in public life, undermining their fundamental rights and the country’s future. Access to health services is uneven, leaving families vulnerable and communities weakened.”

Referring to the large number of Afghans returning to the country “involuntarily,” UNAMA said certain groups particularly women, people with previous links to the former government and its security forces, as well as civil society and media activists face the risk of reprisals.

UNAMA said the Taliban must bring themselves closer to meeting their international human rights obligations. According to the mission, respect for rights strengthens trust and inclusivity, creating the foundation for a society in which everyone can contribute to improving conditions.

Georgette Gagnon, UNAMA’s acting head and Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, said: “Human rights are not optional. They are the everyday essentials that sustain life.” She added that ensuring women and girls can learn, work and participate fully is essential in Afghanistan.

Gagnon urged the Taliban authorities to take the steps needed to align with global human rights obligations and to open space for Afghanistan and all its people to thrive.

For more than four years, the international community has repeatedly called on the Taliban to respect human rights and lift restrictions on women and girls. The group has not heeded those appeals.

According to the embassy, the Taliban ambassador discussed Afghanistan’s political situation, humanitarian assistance and regional issues with the officials.

In separate statements issued on Wednesday, 10 December, the Taliban embassy said Mohammad Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban ambassador in Doha, held talks with Richard Lindsay, the UK’s special envoy for Afghanistan; Patrick DeVries, a senior adviser to the European Institute of Peace; and Virginia Gamba, the UN secretary-general’s representative for children and armed conflict.

The embassy said Shaheen discussed Afghanistan’s political situation, humanitarian aid, education and bilateral relations with the UK envoy.

According to the statement, Shaheen’s meeting with DeVries focused on the Taliban relations with the European Union, peace, regional and global issues and building trust between the international community and the Taliban.

The meetings come as South Asia Magazine recently reported that two organisations in Brussels had convened a discussion on the growing challenges under Taliban rule and the urgent need for political change in Afghanistan. Representatives of Taliban opposition groups, officials from EU member states and European institutional officials took part in that meeting.

Meanwhile, several Afghan political figures including Ahmad Massoud, Abdul Rashid Dostum, Mohammad Ismail Khan, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, Mohammad Yunus Qanuni, Mohammad Mohaqiq and Atta Mohammad Noor have formed a new coalition calling for the start of intra-Afghan peace talks under UN and international supervision.

The Taliban embassy said Shaheen also met with a delegation led by Virginia Gamba. According to the statement, the discussion centred on Afghanistan’s political situation, humanitarian aid and the education of Afghan children.

The individuals received between 25 and 39 lashes and were sentenced to between one and three years in prison.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, 10 December coinciding with International Human Rights Day the Taliban Supreme Court said the primary court in Gospandi district had publicly flogged five people, including two women, on charges of sexual relations outside marriage. They were also sentenced to one to three years’ imprisonment.

In a separate statement, the court reported the public flogging of one woman and one man in Behsud district on charges of illicit relations. They were sentenced to one year and one and a half years in prison respectively.

The public punishments were carried out as the United Nations marked International Human Rights Day under the slogan “Our Basic Needs.” Access to fair trials and respect for human dignity are among the fundamental rights and basic needs of human societies, principles that critics say the Taliban have disregarded during more than four years of rule in Afghanistan.

Data collected by Afghanistan International shows that in the past week alone, the Taliban have flogged at least 94 people across the country on various charges.

The Taliban describe flogging of those convicted in their courts as the implementation of Islamic law. International organisations consider such punishments a violation of human rights standards and have repeatedly called on the Taliban to end corporal punishment and torture.