A group of Afghan residents in Sweden met with some members of the Swedish parliament, requesting that the Swedish government officially recognize “gender apartheid in Afghanistan and the genocide of the Hazaras.”

Members of the “Solidarity Union” and several human rights defenders met with Swedish parliamentarians on Thursday, January 25^th.

A member of the Swedish Social Democratic Party stated that they would not recognize the Taliban government until they respect human rights.

Participants in this meeting told Afghanistan International that Linnéa Wikman, the foreign affairs spokesperson for the Swedish Social Democratic Party, has stated that Sweden will not recognize the Taliban until they respect human rights, girls’ and women’s right to education, and the rights of religious minorities. Sweden will not cooperate with this group in any way.

Meanwhile, the members of the Solidarity Union asked Swedish authorities to respond strongly to the detention and torture of women and girls in Afghanistan and to impose sanctions on Taliban officials through the European Union, international organizations, and human rights bodies.

During this meeting, Afghan activists expressed concern about the human rights situation and urged the global community to take action to stop targeted attacks against the Hazaras.

The Presidents of Iran and Turkey, in a joint statement, emphasized the creation of an inclusive, responsible, and accountable government to represent all the people of Afghanistan.

Ebrahim Raisi and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for ensuring security for the people of Afghanistan “without any ethnic or sectarian discrimination.”

Ebrahim Raisi visited Turkey on Wednesday and met with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during his visit.

In the joint statement, the Presidents of Iran and Turkey stated that both countries assessed practical and constructive interaction with the current authorities in Afghanistan as important.

Despite their relations with the Taliban, Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Iran, like other countries, do not formally recognize this group.

The joint statement of the Presidents of both countries also mentioned a comprehensive fight against all terrorist groups, the production and trafficking of narcotics, human trafficking, illegal border crossings, and facilitating the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of all Afghan migrants to their country as among the topics of discussion.

During their meeting, Erdoğan and Raisi discussed various issues, including addressing the Gaza crisis, fighting terrorism and smuggling along their borders, economic cooperation, and enhancing transit networks.

Additionally, they focused on combating Islamophobia, ensuring Syrian peace, respecting the territorial integrity of Caucasian nations, and other regional concerns. Before issuing a joint statement, the two leaders held a two-hour meeting, followed by a press conference.

Raisi emphasized regional security, expressing doubts about the effectiveness of international organizations, while both leaders affirmed their support for Palestine and called for an end to Gaza attacks, advocating for lasting peace.

On the occasion of World Education Day, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for the reopening of schools and universities for girls beyond the sixth grade in Afghanistan.

Hamid Karzai reiterated this demand on Wednesday and urged the Taliban administration to create favourable conditions for girls’ education as soon as possible.

Karzai emphasized the fundamental role of education in a country’s progress, coinciding with World Education Day celebrated globally on January 24th.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International launched a campaign in support of girls’ education in Afghanistan on January 24th, World Education Day.

It has been over two years since girls above the sixth grade were prohibited from attending schools and educational institutions in Afghanistan.

The Taliban has not made any new decisions regarding the education of girls beyond the sixth grade in the country.

Karzai’s call highlights the urgent need to address the educational rights of Afghan girls.

The international community continues to advocate for the restoration of girls’ access to education in Afghanistan.

The Director-General of South Asian Affairs at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Kabul will host a regional conference called “Worthy of Attention” next week.

Rasoul Mousavi stated that representatives from Iran, Pakistan, Russia, and China will participate in this conference, followed by a Doha meeting on the 17^th of February 2024.

This Iranian diplomat wrote in a post on the social media platform X, that this conference “reflects the special attention of Afghanistan’s neighbours to peace, stability, and the welfare of the Afghan people, as well as security in the region.”

Previously, Kabulov, Russia’s representative for Afghanistan, had also mentioned that a meeting involving China, Iran, and Pakistan about Afghanistan would be held at the end of January.

Russian news agency TASS reported on Tuesday, citing Kabulov as saying, “Engaging with the current authorities in Afghanistan to establish an inclusive government, combat terrorism, and narcotics” will be on the agenda of this conference.

Earlier, Kabulov had announced the organization of a UN-sponsored conference on Afghanistan and had also mentioned that the Moscow format for Afghanistan would continue in 2024.

Since the Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan, no countries or international organizations have officially recognized their government. This lack of recognition stems from concerns regarding the Taliban’s disregard for human rights and their violations of women’s rights.

Kabulov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, on Wednesday stated that Russia would not recognize the Taliban regime. This decision is based on the Taliban’s track record of human rights violations and their failure to adhere to their international obligations.