Afghan missions abroad slam Taliban regime, want travel ban back

The Taliban have not only failed to deliver on their commitments but also “reenacted draconian policies”, including systematically erasing women from public life, Afghan diplomatic missions across the world said on Monday, on the first anniversary of the fall of the democratically elected government in Kabul.
The missions in different countries also said that the international community should reinforce the UN-mandated travel ban on certain Taliban leaders, as the group has misused the exemptions.
In New Delhi, the statement was put out the Afghanan embassy.
Most diplomatic missions of Afghanan, including in India, are still functioning independently of the Taliban dispensation. At present, around 70 Afghan missions are in operation.
The missions said the killing of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul last month affirmed that the Taliban are hosting and sheltering a “coterie” of foreign terror groups, which are threatening security and stability of Afghanan, the region, and the wider world.
The missions put forward seven points for consideration the international community to bring peace and stability in Afghanan. These include re-imposition of the travel ban on certain Taliban leaders and enling new individuals in the sanction regime, coordinated measures to address “dangerous threat” emanating from the presence of foreign terror groups in the country, and ensuring meaningful engagement to exert pressure on the group.
The missions specifically urged the international community to “reinforce the UN travel ban for Taliban leaders [concerned], as the group has continuously misused travel-ban exemptions refusing to engage in any meaningful dialogue for a political settlement”. They called on the international community and the UN to seek “pragmatic solutions” to the current economic, political and humanitarian crisis in Afghanan through putting in place all necessary measures to meet the urgent needs of the people of Afghanan.
“Afghan citizens are deprived of basic services and face grave human rights abuses and violations, poverty, repression, and fear,” they stated.
“Almost overnight, the Taliban militant group rolled back hard-won gains achieved through the joint effort and sacrifice of the people of Afghanan and the international community since 2001,” they said.
They said the Taliban have rejected consent national and international appeals for the creation of an inclusive and representative government, which is critical for political stability.
The missions said despite the “violent and illegitimate” nature of the Taliban takeover, they were offered the opportunity to deliver on commitments, including ensuring the fundamental rights of citizens and not allowing Afghanan to become a safe haven for international terrorism.
The statement said many countries and international organisations adopted a policy of dialogue and engagement with the group in the hope that such interaction would positively influence the Taliban’s approach and actions toward the people’s expectations. “One year on, the Taliban have not only totally failed to deliver on all their commitments but re-enacted draconian policies and directives,” the missions stated.
“Among others, the group has banned girls from attending secondary education and systematically erased women and girls from public life restricting their fundamental rights to work and play an active role in society,” the statement said.
The missions said preventing girls from education not only constitutes a “grave human rights violation” but also jeopardises the country’s progress and future.
They alleged that “arbitrary detentions” including of women activs, forced disappearances and forced displacements, collective punishment, crackdown on media and extra-judicial killings became normal practice under the Taliban rule.
“These and other measures have perpetuated a climate of absolute fear and physical and psychological insecurity, forcing hundreds of thousands of Afghans to leave the country,” the missions said.