Zalmay Khalilzad states that the initial steps towards negotiations with the Taliban were taken under the Obama administration, not the Donald Trump administration.

Khalilzad says that during the Obama era, he received a letter from Mullah Yaqoob, stating that war does not have a military solution, and the Taliban seeks its end.

The US House Foreign Affairs Committee broadcast Zalmay Khalilzad’s testimony, the former US representative for Afghanistan, on Thursday, May 2nd, on its official X page. These remarks are part five of a series of interviews conducted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Michael McCaul, with US State Department officials involved in the Afghanistan withdrawal program.

Mr Khalilzad, in his testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that for the Biden administration, there were three options regarding the Doha agreement: not insisting on the conditional agreement and emphasizing withdrawal and counterterrorism, breaking the agreement similar to Trump’s nuclear deal with Iran, and ultimately accepting the conditional Doha agreement.

Khalilzad states that President Biden did not choose the option of conditional withdrawing forces from Afghanistan.

The former US special representative for Afghanistan added that he had recommended accepting the conditional Doha agreement and believes Secretary of State Antony Blinken had also recommended it. However, according to Khalilzad, other individuals in the US government refrained from accepting their recommendations, arguing that the Taliban were resuming attacks on US forces.

However, both Khalilzad and Blinken supported the unconditional withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.

The former US special representative for Afghanistan said that the White House and the National Security Council led the full troop withdrawal process in 2021. During August, when the deadly evacuation took place, important decisions regarding engagement with the Taliban were made by the Biden National Security Council.

Khalilzad said that the Trump administration had three priorities for negotiations with the Taliban: negotiating an agreement that would facilitate a safe and orderly withdrawal, ensuring that Afghanistan did not revert to a haven for terrorist organizations, and the necessity of intra-Afghan negotiations.

According to a document released by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Khalilzad insisted on the release of thousands of Taliban prisoners during the summer of 2020, arguing that the Taliban would not engage in talks with the Afghan government without the release of their prisoners.

Khalilzad, the Secretary of State, and others agreed on the need for confidence-building measures demanded by the Taliban before intra-Afghan talks. The Afghan government sought parity in prisoner exchanges.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has released its three-month report on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, highlighting ongoing human rights violations across various dimensions.

The UNAMA report, published on Thursday, May 2^nd, covers the human rights situation in Afghanistan during the first three months (January, February, and March) of the current year, addressing issues such as civilian casualties, women’s rights, media freedom, detention, torture, mistreatment, extrajudicial killings by former government members, physical punishment, and cases of execution.

In the section concerning civilian casualties, it is reported that from January 6th to January 11th, 2024, three explosive incidents occurred in Kabul, resulting in 79 civilian deaths and 68 others injured.

Other explosions, including one on March 21st in Kandahar, are documented in the UNAMA report, with ISIS claiming responsibility for the majority of these explosions.

Regarding women’s rights, the report highlights the ban on girls’ education in secondary schools and high schools. According to the report, the enforcement of the hijab guidelines and the ban on girls’ education by the Taliban regime authorities continues unabated.

The UNAMA Deputy Mission in Afghanistan also reported that the Taliban recorded five executions from August 15, 2021 (since its renewed control over Afghanistan) until the end of March 2024. This includes two executions on December 7, 2022, and June 20, 2023, in the provinces of Farah and Laghman, and three recent executions carried out in Ghazni.

The UNAMA documents continue to indicate that freedom of expression and the media in Afghanistan face complex challenges, which have been exacerbated by serious economic challenges during the first three months of the current year.

The report also mentions the detention of the editor-in-chief of Khama Press, who was arrested on February 17th for publishing a report on the declining presence of girls in Kabul city following the arrest of girls on charges of improper veiling.

UNAMA concludes that in addition to the ongoing violations of women’s and girls’ rights and the intensification of restrictions against journalists and media outlets, the overall human rights situation has not improved.

The Taliban regime has consistently denied reports from the international community and organizations, asserting their inaccuracy. As Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban administration, stated in an interview with Tolo News after the report’s release, the UNAMA report is not accurate.

Ahmad Vahidi, the Minister of Interior Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated that Afghan migrants are beloved people who have come here to escape the oppression of tyrants and oppressors.

In an interview with the Iranian media IRNA on Wednesday, May 1st, this high-ranking official of the Islamic Republic of Iran mentioned that Afghan migrants, from a humane perspective, have abandoned their homes and lives under the pressure of tyrants and oppressors and have come here.

Mr Vahidi added that, based on humaneness and ethical principles, they had accepted them, but now our capacity is full, and they should not come beyond this. Those who are undocumented migrants here should be provided with the means to return.

He further stated, “Currently, we do not accept unauthorized citizens, and any institution that employs unauthorized citizens is committing an offence.”

Since the Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan, a significant number of Afghans have chosen to migrate to neighbouring countries like Iran and Pakistan. Faced with political instability, economic uncertainty, and restricted freedoms, many have sought refuge across the borders for safety and opportunities.

However, the forced deportation of Afghan migrants has led to a dire humanitarian crisis. These individuals often face security threats and the risk of violence upon their return to Afghanistan. The abrupt displacement exacerbates their vulnerability, leaving them without adequate protection and support in their home country.

Upon returning to Afghanistan, migrants encounter a lack of essential amenities and face numerous challenges. Infrastructure deficiencies, limited access to education and healthcare, and economic hardships await them. Meanwhile, their reintegration process is hindered by the ongoing instability and precarious conditions in both Afghanistan and the neighbouring countries they once sought refuge.