UN to Afghan Taliban: No peace or prosperity until women’s rights are restored 

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021 after US and NATO forces withdrew following 20 years of war. However, no country recognises them as the official government due to their harsh policies against women. Women are banned from most jobs, public spaces, and education beyond the sixth grade. They must wear full veils and are not allowed to speak in public.

The Security Council urged the Taliban to “swiftly reverse these policies and practices”.

UN special envoy Roza Otunbayeva, who leads UNAMA, told the Security Council last week that the Taliban must decide if they want Afghanistan to be part of the international community. “If so, they must be willing to take the necessary steps,” she said.

The Taliban’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, posted on X that the “dignity, honour and legal rights of women” are a priority under Islamic law and Afghan culture. However, Islamic scholars and Muslim countries have stated that Islam does not forbid women from education and work.

Otunbayeva also said many Afghans are unhappy with the Taliban’s strict rules and fear further isolation. “They have indeed welcomed an absence of conflict and greater stability, at least for men,” she said. “But this is not a peace where they can live in dignity with their human rights respected and with confidence in a stable future”, reported by AP.

Afghanistan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis. More than half the population—around 23 million people—need urgent aid due to years of war, poverty, climate shocks, and a growing population, Otunbayeva said. She warned that declining funding is making things worse, with over 200 health centres closing in the past month alone, affecting 1.8 million people, including malnourished children.

On security, the UN urged the Taliban to take stronger action against terrorism. It condemned all terrorist activity and insisted Afghanistan must not be used to threaten other countries.

Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have risen, as attacks by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), who are allied with the Afghan Taliban, have increased in Pakistan. At the same time, militants from the Afghan branch of the Islamic State group, which opposes the Taliban, have carried out deadly bombings across Afghanistan.

(with inputs from AP)