In the span of just a few months, the Taliban has received significant diplomatic recognition from different nations around the world. While the open channels of dialogue help the country to boost its economy and international standing, the question of Afghan women and their rights remained unanswered.
With the Taliban ruling Afghanistan for three years, the political winds for the group started to shift in the international arena. In the span of just a few months, dozens of countries have welcomed Taliban diplomats. Some even have sent high-ranking officials to Kabul to build diplomatic ties and secure trade with the country which has been marred by the conflict.
Things started to change for the group positively as there has been talk of removing the group from the international terrorist lists. While the diplomatic activities reflected a shift in the global perspective of the Taliban, one concern remains pivotal. That is the deplorable conditions of women in the country and the lack of their presence during international conversations about their rights.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for the economic affairs, centre, inspects the honour guards during a military parade to mark the third anniversary of the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops from Afghanistan, in Bagram Air Base in the Parwan Province of Afghanistan, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. AP
In June this year, the Afghan group attended a rare United Nations-led conference of global envoys to Afghanistan. That was the first such meeting between the Taliban and other international actors held in Doha. While the gathering actively spoke about women’s rights in Afghanistan, not a single woman was allowed to attend the meeting.
It was not like Afghanistan didn’t have women to speak on the issue. The country is home to Nobel peace-prize nominated women’s rights activist Mehbouba Seraj along with other brave women. However, the country has barred women from even speaking or singing in public. While the world extends its hands to the Taliban, the women’s questions in the country still remain unanswered.
Content retrieved from: https://www.firstpost.com/world/taliban-finally-emerges-as-afghanistans-official-voice-despite-closing-the-door-on-women-13828957.html.
