US’s West Shares Details of Meetings with Pakistani Officials

West said that the US stands with Pakistan against terrorism in the region.

The US special envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West on X provided details of his meetings with Pakistani officials during a visit to the country, saying that important conversations happened about grave security challenges posed by “TTP” as well as the “imperative to protect Afghan refugees.”

West said that the US stands with Pakistan against terrorism in the region.

“Departing Islamabad after a productive two-day visit. Important conversations with Jail Abbas Jilani, [Pakistan Foreign Minister], Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, Asif Durrani, Pakistan special envoy for Afghanistan … about grave security challenges posed by TTP as well as imperative to protect Afghan refugees,” he said.

West wrote that close communication with Islamabad regarding the “refugee protection issues, including collaboration with IOs and humane and dignified treatment” took place.

Spent valuable time with the leadership of UNHCR and IOM in Islamabad, discussing their support for the most vulnerable and at-risk Afghans. Proud that the US has contributed $77M to UNHCR this year for these efforts, and $9M to IOM to respond to recent earthquakes.

Also met courageous Afghan refugees to hear about their lives first-hand. Admire their courage under wrenching circumstances. We call for their protection and thank UNHCR, IOM, and other partners for their efforts.

But the Islamic Emirate said that the negotiations between the US and Pakistani officials are not helpful for the improvement of the situation in Afghanistan.

“The deportation of the refugees was illegal as it happened suddenly. But we are prepared if they are deported to serve them. Whatever the US can do or not do, I don’t think it can do anything. They will come and talk and return. We don’t hope for any practical change,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman.

Some political analysts also believe that the meetings of the US special envoy for Afghanistan with Pakistani officials is not in the interest of Afghanistan.

“The meetings between Thomas West and the Pakistan Foreign Minister and other officials, focused on the refugees particularly the refugees who have asylum cases in the US. But of course the issue of TTP [Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan], was also discussed between them,” said Saleem Paigeer, a political analyst.

“This visit of Thomas West is based on his duty line. It will not bring any change regarding Afghanistan,” said Asadullah Nadim, political analyst.

The US special envoy earlier said that he had kicked off traveling to Pakistan, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia on December 5-15.

US’s West Shares Details of Meetings with Pakistani Officials
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Calls Mount for Scrutiny of War Crimes in Afghanistan

This conference of the United Nations on “Accountability for Crimes Committed in Afghanistan” was held on Friday.

The UN special rapporteur for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, criticized the lack of accountability for crimes against humanity in Afghanistan.

Richard Bennett in a conference for “Accountability for Crimes Committed in Afghanistan” said that Afghanistan has been experiencing impunity of war crimes for decades, the crimes against humanity, and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

But the Islamic Emirate said that the United States and its allies are perpetrators of war crimes in Afghanistan.

This conference of the United Nations on “Accountability for Crimes Committed in Afghanistan” was held on Friday.

The UN special rapporteur for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett: “I really like to stress the importance of this event, as accountability is the bedrock of the human rights system and Afghanistan has been experiencing impunity for decades … for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and violations of human rights or international humanitarian law.”

Anna Myriam Roccatello, the Deputy Executive Director and Director of Programs of the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), said: “Member states should consider particularly those that are involved in the various phases of the conflict in Afghanistan to open cases for their own citizens.”

The representative of Norway in this conference emphasized the global support for women in Afghanistan and added that women should attend the meetings about Afghanistan.

Andreas Løvold, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said: “we have to create a kind of a joint platform with Afghan women and bring them to the table where its possible … and there is an opportunity for them to speak. We should as member states do whatever we can in providing that platform because its not only about talking and discussing about the current situation, it’s about the future of their country.”

But the Islamic Emirate said that the United States and its allies are the perpetrators of war crimes in Afghanistan.

“If there was a crime or violation of human rights during the 20 years of American occupation, they themselves were the main perpetrators of the crimes. If it is calculated, They must be calculated,” Zabihullah Mujahid said.

Amnesty International had previously called for an investigation of war crimes in Afghanistan before 2021.

This organization asked the International Criminal Court to review the cases of war crimes committed by the Taliban and other countries in Afghanistan.

Calls Mount for Scrutiny of War Crimes in Afghanistan
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Taliban Criticize New US Human Rights Curbs Against Two Leaders


FILE - Afghan women wait to receive food distributed by a humanitarian aid group in Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 23, 2023. The United States on Dec. 8 imposed sanctions against two Taliban leaders for human rights abuses against women and girls.
FILE – Afghan women wait to receive food distributed by a humanitarian aid group in Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 23, 2023. The United States on Dec. 8 imposed sanctions against two Taliban leaders for human rights abuses against women and girls.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government denounced the United States Saturday for imposing fresh sanctions against two of its leaders for human rights abuses, saying that pressure and restrictive measures do not help solve problems.

The response came a day after the U.S. Treasury Department placed sanctions against 20 people in nine countries, including China, Iran and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, to mark International Human Rights Day on December 10.

Friday’s Afghan-related designations listed Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, head of the Taliban’s vice and virtue ministry, and Fariduddin Mahmood, a member of the group’s male-only cabinet and the head of the Afghanistan Academy of Sciences.

The U.S. said the two Taliban men were responsible for “the repression of rights for women and girls based solely on their gender.”

The Taliban ban girls from receiving an education beyond the sixth grade in Afghanistan and women from most workplaces. The Islamist group reclaimed power from an American-backed government two years ago, declaring its male-only administration as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, or IEA.

“We condemn the restrictions imposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on IEA’s two officials,” Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief Taliban spokesman, said in an English-language statement on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

He urged Washington to desist from “imposing pressure and restrictions” on his government, alleging the United States “should not repeat its failed experiences” of the past.

“While America itself is among the biggest violators of human rights due to its support for Israel, it is unjustified and illogical to accuse other people of violating human rights and then ban them,” Mujahid said.

Education bans

The U.S. announcement Friday identified Mahmood as a supporter of the education-related bans on women and girls. It said that members of Hanafi’s ministry “have engaged in serious human rights abuse, including abductions, whippings and beatings.” They also have assaulted Afghans protesting the restrictions on women’s activity, including access to education, the statement noted.

“Khalid Hanafi and Fariduddin Mahmood are complicit in serious human rights abuses against women and girls in #Afghanistan. We hold them accountable for denying half the #Afghan population their rights,” Karen Decker, the chargé d’affaires of the U.S. diplomatic mission to Afghanistan, said Saturday on X.

The Taliban returned to power in August 2021 when the U.S.-led international forces withdrew from Afghanistan after two decades of involvement in the war with the then-insurgent Taliban.

“Since August 2021, the Taliban has implemented expansive policies of targeted discrimination against women and girls that impede their enjoyment of a wide range of rights, including those related to education, employment, peaceful assembly and movement, among others,” said the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control in its Friday statement.

It added that the Taliban’s restrictions have turned Afghanistan into the world’s only nation where women and girls are prohibited from pursuing secondary education.

Friday’s sanctions freeze all property and interests of the designated people in the United States and prohibit them from conducting business with Americans.

De facto Taliban rulers defend their policies, saying they are aligned with Afghan culture and Islamic law. Scholars and governments across the rest of Muslim-majority countries, however, dispute their claims.

No foreign government has recognized the Taliban as legitimate rulers of the country, mainly over human rights concerns and their harsh treatment of Afghan women.

Taliban Criticize New US Human Rights Curbs Against Two Leaders
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Over 482,000 ‘Illegal Afghan’ Refugees Deported: Bugti

This comes as some of the Afghan refugees in Pakistan expressed concerns over their mistreatment by the country’s police.

Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti, Pakistan Caretaker Interior Minister, said that over “482,000 illegal Afghan immigrants’ have been deported from the country since the policy of deportation of refugees has become into effect.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, he said that all foreigners, including Afghans, residing legally in the country would also be deported immediately if found to be engaged in political activities.

According to the Pakistan media, Bugti said that the Constitution does not allow any foreigner on a visa to take part in politics in Pakistan.
“The number of people who have returned so far is 482,000, who have been deported” through different crossings from Pakistan, he said.

Bugti also claimed that 90 percent of the Afghan refugees left Pakistan voluntarily. He said that nearly 10 Afghans involved in Pakistan political parties’ activities have been recognized.

“They have nothing to do with the politics of Pakistan. Nearly 10 people who have been identified initially who are involved in political activities will be deported,” he said.

This comes as some of the Afghan refugees in Pakistan expressed concerns over their mistreatment by the country’s police.

“The refugees who have recently returned to their countries, they were forced to leave because the Pakistani police were conducting crackdowns on their houses and were harassing them and beating them,” said Javid Ebrar, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan.

“Many refugees who have returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan were beaten by the police and taken by the police to Torkham,” said Malik Shinwari, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan.

But the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that the Afghans who are living in Pakistan don’t interfere in the country’s internal affairs.
“The Afghans who are in Pakistan do not interfere in Pakistan’s internal affairs and this is an incorrect concern… we deny it,” he said.

The deportation of Afghan refugees by Pakistan has caused serious concerns among the international community.

Over 482,000 ‘Illegal Afghan’ Refugees Deported: Bugti
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EU’s Borrell: ‘Gender Apartheid’ Exists in Afghanistan

Some women’s rights activists asked the international community to take action to remove restrictions against women in Afghanistan.

In a meeting in Brussels, Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, spoke about the existence of gender discrimination after the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan.

Borrell Fontelles said that discrimination in Afghanistan is not based on skin color but based on gender.

“Who remembers what is happening in Kabul? Afghanistan has disappeared from the media, in Afghanistan you have gender apartheid, I think it is a good way to call what is happening there gender apartheid, not by the color of the skin but by gender, women and girls are deprived from going to going to schools and an awful dictatorship is ruling the country,” said Josep Borrell Fontelles.

However, the Islamic Emirate has previously denied the existence of gender discrimination in the country and said that the rights of all citizens, especially women, are protected within the framework of Islamic Sharia.

Some women’s rights activists asked the international community to take action to remove restrictions against women in Afghanistan.

“If we look at the situation of Afghan women in the last forty years, Afghan women have become victims as a result of wars and failed policies,” said Dewa Patang, a women’s rights activist.

“Work and education are the rights of every human being. Taliban should give Afghan women and girls the right to work and study like in other Islamic countries. The restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women and girls are not even included in the Islam Law,” said Lemia Sherzai, a women’s rights activist.

Meanwhile, there have been many concerns about the situation of women in the country during the two years since the takeover of the Islamic Emirate, but in response to these concerns, the Islamic Emirate said that the rights of all citizens, especially women, have been given to them within the framework of Islamic Sharia.

EU’s Borrell: ‘Gender Apartheid’ Exists in Afghanistan
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Islamic Emirate Reacts to Sanction of Its Officials by US

Sayed Jawad Sijadi, university lecturer, said that the imposition of sanctions will affect the relations between the US and Taliban.

The Islamic Emirate condemned the recent sanctions imposed by the US Department of the Treasury on two of its officials and said that imposing sanctions is not the solution.

Zabiullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, wrote on X that “while the US is one of the biggest violators of human rights due to its support for Israel, accusing others of violating human rights and imposing sanctions on them is unjustifiable and irrational.”

“These sanctions have no results and if it continues, it will not have any negative impact on the Islamic Emirate and people of Afghanistan because we don’t have any financial or commercial engagement with the US,” he said.

The US Department of Treasury said in a statement on December 8 that the Office of Foreign Assets Control designated “Fariduddin Mahmood (Mahmood) and Khalid

Hanafi (Hanafi) for serious human rights abuse related to the repression of women and girls, including through the restriction of access to secondary education for women and girls in Afghanistan solely on the basis of gender.”

This gender-based restriction, the statement said, “reflects severe and pervasive discrimination against women and girls and interferes with their enjoyment of equal protection.”

The US special envoy for Afghan women and girls, Rina Amiri, also said on X that “the Taliban’s discriminatory edicts targeting women and girls are some of the most heinous human rights abuses in the world.”

“Today, the US has issued sanctions related to restricting access to secondary education on Khalid Hanafi and Fariduddin Mahmoud. We must continue to hold accountable those involved in repressing the women and girls of Afghanistan.”

Suraya Paikan, women’s rights activist, said that the sanctions will cause a global reflection but will not help with the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.

Sayed Mustafa Mortazavi, university lecturer, suggested that the Islamic Emirate should bring “immediate reforms in reopening girls schools and university.”

Sayed Jawad Sijadi, university lecturer, said that the imposition of sanctions will affect the relations between the US and Taliban.

“The condition will become difficult for the Taliban and the violation of human rights will not remain without response,” he said.

In July this year, The European Council said that it imposed restrictive measures against 18 individuals and 5 entities under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, because of their responsibility for serious human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Ukraine and Russia.

“Six individuals were listed over various forms of sexual and gender-based violence,” said the Council of the EU in a statement.

Islamic Emirate Reacts to Sanction of Its Officials by US
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Girls Over 6th Grade Concerned About Their Educational Future

More than two years have passed, and there is still no news about the reopening of school for girls above the sixth grade.

At the end of the 1402 solar school year, a number of sixth grade girls have expressed concern about not being able to go to school next year.

They asked the caretaker government not to prevent girls from going to school in the next academic year.

More than two years have passed, and there is still no news about the reopening of school for girls above the sixth grade.

Zahra and Zainab, who have just finished the sixth grade, talk about their last day at school and meeting their classmates and teachers.

“The last day of our school was very sad. Me and all my classmates were crying because we cannot go to school anymore, the teachers were also crying because they couldn’t see their students anymore,” said said Zainab, a sixth grade student.

“We said goodbye to our classmates and teachers. It’s a very sad feeling that you can’t see your classmates anymore. I spent 6 good years in school and from now on I don’t want to sit in the corner of the house,” said Zahra, the sister and classmate of Zainab.

At the same time, Zahra and Zainab’s family, stressing the importance of their children’s education, have asked the caretaker government not to prevent girls from attending schools.

“I do not want us to remain in these problems and for our children to remain in poverty and illiteracy in the future. We request the elders of the Islamic Emirate to solve the problem of girl’s schools,” Mahboobullah, Zahra and Zainab’s father told TOLOnews.

The Islamic Emirate has already said that the caretaker government is trying to provide education to girls above the sixth grade.

“In today’s world where everyone is turning to technology, unfortunately, in Afghanistan as an Islamic country, girls above the sixth grade do not have the right to education and knowledge of humanities,” said Palwasha, a women’s rights activist.

More than 800 days have passed since the gates of schools were closed to girls above the sixth grade in the country.

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in a program yesterday (Thursday) that blocking the gates of schools is one of the fundamental reasons for people and for some countries to distance themselves from the Islamic Emirate.

Girls Over 6th Grade Concerned About Their Educational Future
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Ministry Reacts to HRW Report on Girls’ Education

The MoE’s spokesman, Mansour Ahmad Hamza, said that the education sector is active across the country without any favoritism based on ethnicity, language and area.

The Ministry of Education denied the claims of the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report, saying that the ministry pays serious attention to the quality of education and its growth throughout Afghanistan.

The MoE’s spokesman, Mansour Ahmad Hamza, said that the education sector is active across the country without any favoritism based on ethnicity, language and area.

The ministry said that no female teacher has been fired so far and legal action will be taken against the perpetrators of corporal punishment of students in schools.

Previously, Human Rights Watch criticized the policies applied to the education sector in Afghanistan in a report and said that the “wrong” policy of the Islamic Emirate is harming the boys, girls and women of this country.

“The ministry has taken some steps. We can say that some of these steps are to provide facilities for the students,” Hamza said.

According to the MoE, nearly 2 million children have been enrolled and provided with educational opportunities within the last year.

“When we draw such [talented] teachers, we in fact present experts, engineers and doctors for the future of our country,” said Mohammad Jahid Mushtaq, a university lecturer.

Meanwhile, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of Jamiat Ulama e Islam, a Pakistani political party, met with Jane Marriott, the British High Commissioner and they discussed the stability of Afghanistan and the status of girls’ education there.

Jamiat Ulama e Islam Pakistan said in a statement that Maulana Fazlur Rehman called for attention to be paid to the educational situation of “women and children ” in Afghanistan.

“A legal path solution should be found for this issue because this is the issue that affects the recognition. Over the past two-years, this issue has not been paid very much attention,” said Mohammad Ajmal Zurmati, a political analyst.

Earlier, the Human Rights Watch in a statement said the “Taliban’s abusive educational policies in Afghanistan are harming boys as well as girls and women,” Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report on Wednesday, adding that the departure of qualified teachers has led to regressive curriculum changes.

Ministry Reacts to HRW Report on Girls’ Education
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Biden: US Ready to Respond to ‘Possible Threats’ from Afghanistan

However, Biden did not give details about where the American forces are stationed.

In a letter to the US Congress, President Joe Biden said that US forces stationed in the region are ready to respond to “possible threats” arising from Afghanistan.

He said that the US military personnel remain postured outside Afghanistan to address threats to the United States “homeland and United States interests that may arise from inside Afghanistan.”

However, Biden did not give details about where the American forces are stationed.

So far, the Islamic Emirate has not reacted to this comment, but has previously said that Afghanistan’s soil is not a threat to any country.

“The Islamic Emirate has taken serious steps against every element causing insecurity in Afghanistan. It has taken an effective stance. So Afghanistan is not insecure,”

Zabiullah Mujahid, Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, previously said.

Asadullah Nadim, military analyst, said that the networks which are active in Afghanistan don’t have the capacity to attack the US.

“The networks that are active in Afghanistan including the Taliban don’t have the ability to attack the US and its allies and even the neighboring countries,” he said.

“The US is concerned that Daesh or al-Qaeda will come under Russia’s control and get access to the modern weapons that can cause problems for the US,” said Sarwar Niazai, political analyst.

On November 30, the US State Department released a report dated April 2023 that focused on terrorism in 2022 and which claimed that Al-Qaeda, Daesh and other regional terrorist groups remained active in Afghanistan.

Biden: US Ready to Respond to ‘Possible Threats’ from Afghanistan
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Afghan Women’s Education Part of Doha Forum’s Session

The Reconstruction of Education for Women in Afghanistan is part of the agenda of the two-day meeting with the presence of foreign envoys and former Afghan officials as well as civil rights activists due to be held on Sunday in Doha, capital of Qatar.

The first day of the meeting is expected to discuss the issue of women’s education in Afghanistan.

According to the agenda of the meeting seen by TOLOnews, the US special envoy for Afghan women and girls, Rina Amiri, and the former Afghan minister of education, Rangina Hameedi, will also participate in the meeting.

“In education, we find hope for future generations. Throughout history, the cultivation of knowledge has had a profound effect on nations, elevating standards, promoting innovation, and fostering social progress,” the Doha Forum wrote on its website. “The education sector in Afghanistan, however, is failing to achieve such progress, particularly when it comes to Afghan women.”

The Islamic Emirate has not yet commented about the meeting but earlier stressed the presence of envoys of the Islamic Emirate.

“The issues which are being discussed about Afghanistan are obvious, which will be the deprivation of girls and women from education and higher education. But how to solve this issue and what is the practical path to solve this issue belongs to the interim government and nation of Afghanistan,” said Suraya Paikan, a women’s rights activist.

Wahid Faqiri, political analyst, said that girls and women in Afghanistan have been deprived.

“The rights of girls and women of Afghanistan have been violated. They have been deprived of education and work. The Afghans want from all the international community including the Doha forum to prioritize the issue of girls education in their agendas,” he said.

The participants of the session will discuss various issues including the issue of Palestine and the crisis in Syria.

Afghan Women’s Education Part of Doha Forum’s Session
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