Recognizing Taliban linked to policies on women: US

Story by  ATV | Posted by  Aasha Khosa • 1 Years ago
NSA Ajit Doval speaking at the 4th regional conference on Afghanistan in Dushanbe
NSA Ajit Doval speaking at the 4th regional conference on Afghanistan in Dushanbe

 

New Delhi

In a major development, the US State Department not only criticized the Taliban government’s suppressive policies on women and girls, but also said “these strategies will have a negative impact on the relations of the Islamic Emirate with Washington and the world.” Interestingly, India's National security head Ajit Doval also raised the issue of Kabul's policies towards womnen and girls at Dushanbe on Friday.

“The legitimacy, the support the Taliban seeks from the international community, it depends on their conduct including centrally and centrally their respect for the rights of women when it comes to the public and private commitments that the Taliban have made. They have made a number of them, including their counterterrorism commitments, including their pledge to respect and to uphold the human rights of women, girls, Afghanistan’s minorities, including the freedom of access, freedom of travel for those who wish to leave Afghanistan, and when it comes to ISIS K and Al-Qaida. Of course, the Taliban has not been living up to the commitment it has made in the realm of human rights,” Ned Price, spokesperson for US government said.

Price added that Washington's acknowledgment of the legitimacy of the new government depends on its ensuring the rights of women and girls, fighting terrorism, and other issues in Afghanistan.

In Dushanbe, the National security chiefs of eight countries including India who met for the 4th Regional dialogue on Afghanistan on Friday, India’s National security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval,  spoke along the same line.

In a message to the Taliban, Doval told his peers that there “is a need for representation of all sections of Afghan society including women and minorities so that the collective energies of the largest possible proportion of the Afghan population feel motivated to contribute to nation-building.”

He said the “foremost priority should be the right to life and a dignified living as well as the protection of the human rights of all Afghans.’ ndia has been sending food, vaccines and lifesaving medicines to Afghanistan even without having any formal relations with the Taliban regime. In this context, Doval warned the Taliban about reported pilferages and denial of the food and medicines to women and children. “The international assistance should be accessible to all, respect for all obligations under international humanitarian law should be ensured.”

He said, “Women and youth are critical for the future of any society. Provision of education to girls and employment to women and youth will ensure productivity and spur growth. It will also have a positive social impact including discouraging radical ideologies among youth.  

Kabul has always said that the rights of women and girls are ensured within the framework of Islamic law.