The Taliban on Friday called on the United Nations Security Council »not to continue its failed policy of pressure» after the body criticized the fundamentalists’ ban on women working for UN agencies and non-governmental organizations.
»The UN Security Council should not continue the failed policy of pressure. Any position taken that is not based on deep understanding will not yield the desired results and will always be ineffective,» said Anas Haqqani, a senior Taliban official.
He said in a series of messages posted on his official Twitter account that »it would have been better if the UN Security Council had considered the withdrawal of diplomatic and financial sanctions (against Afghanistan).
Haqqani, a former member of the Taliban negotiating team and brother of the current Interior Minister and leader of the Haqqani Network, Sirajudin Haqqani, has indicated that these sanctions are »a collective punishment to the Afghans».
The open arms stance of the Islamic Emirate is a solution to the problems, which these measures are not,» he reiterated, hours after a resolution calling for the »full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women and girls in Afghanistan» was unanimously approved.
The UN Security Council has also demanded that the Taliban »promptly reverse their policies and practices that restrict the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls, including those related to their access to education, employment, freedom of movement and participation in public life».
In addition, the resolution calls on the authorities installed by the Taliban after they seized power in August 2021 following the flight from the country of the then president, Ashraf Ghani, to ensure that women can work in UN agencies and NGOs in order to care for the thousands of people in need of assistance, whether food, medical or educational.
Afghan authorities have faced criticism for their restrictions on civil liberties, including the closure of schools and the exclusion of female students from them, amid a raft of discriminatory measures against women that keep them away from their jobs and govern aspects of their daily lives.
WOMEN’S SITUATION HAS NO EXTERNAL IMPACT» In a subsequent statement, the Taliban Foreign Ministry merely »took note» of the UN Security Council’s decision and indicated that the situation of women in the country should in no way affect the current fundamentalist government’s relations with the international community.
We would like to stress that, in accordance with international law and with the respect of the member states for the sovereign decisions of Afghanistan, this is a social issue of Afghanistan which has no impact on the states outside the country,» he said.
We remain committed to guaranteeing all the rights of Afghan women while emphasizing that diversity must be respected and not politicized,» the Ministry simply reiterated before focusing on the aspect of the resolution that calls for an exercise of »compromise» as the only »realistic» way forward for the future of the country.
»We are ready to work together with neighbors, countries and regional and global organizations,» the Ministry concludes.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
