Kabul [Afghanistan], October 24 (ANI): The Taliban on Sunday for the first time accepted that collapse of the former government (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) was not in the interest of the people and that it did not happen in an organized manner.

Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Zabiullah Mujahid made the remarks in a special interview with Tolo News. “In my opinion, Afghanistan was damaged by it because if war was stopped and we reached a meaningful negotiation, the situation would have been better and different from now. And the result would have avoided the collapse of institutions and the fleeing of people from the country,” he said.

Mujahid said that if the peace negotiations had continued between the two Afghan sides and had resulted in the end of the war in the country, there would be a better situation than now, reported Tolo News.

He said that changes could be expected in the current cabinet as the path for further discussion has remained open. But the concerns of the other countries regarding certain individuals in the government are not acceptable.

“We are reiterating, again and again, the terms of inclusivity means something like this … If the aim is to include the people, we have already included various ethnicities in the current government, and they are part of the cabinet,” he said.

The present Islamic Emirate government of the Taliban is not an inclusive government and has no representation of women. Moreover, the cabinet is devoid of any minority representation too.

The Islamic Emirate announced its cabinet over one month ago. Despite the diplomatic efforts of the Islamic Emirate officials, the international community has yet to recognize the current Afghan government.

Mujahid also criticized the US for withdrawing financial aid and said the US is encouraging countries to withhold resources and to not recognize the caretaker government, reported Tolo News. “We know that the (US) is behind it and it persuaded others not to recognize the Islamic Emirate as well,” Mujahid added. (ANI)

UN envoy Lyons meets Taliban leaders, discusses humanitarian aid, human rights, inclusive government

Kabul [Afghanistan], October 24 (ANI): UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons on Saturday met Taliban leaders and discussed humanitarian aid, human rights and inclusive government.
In the meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and acting Finance Minister Hidayatullah Badri, Lyons discussed the deepening economic and humanitarian crisis and human rights concerns, reported Tolo News.

Lyons said United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) will continue delivering life-saving aid. She also said, “There is a need for inclusive governance and protection of the rights of all Afghans, women and men,” reported Tolo News.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the UN will continue defending the rights of Afghan girls and women until they are back to school and return to their jobs. “We will not stop until girls can go back to school, and women can return to their jobs and participate in public life,” Guterres tweeted.

A spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate said the UN envoy in her meetings with the Islamic Emirate officials has discussed humanitarian aid and the problems in Afghanistan’s banking system reported Tolo News. “During the meeting, Lyons said they had increased the number of staff to deliver humanitarian aid and that she would soon visit the US where she would raise her voice for the resumption of the banking system of Afghanistan,” said Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a foreign ministry spokesman. (ANI)

If someone thinks that Taliban changed, they are mistaken, say Afghan female athletes

Washington [US], October 24 (ANI): Women athletes in Afghanistan, whose dreams of playing sports at international levels has come to an end, say the political change in the country has left them with just one thing to survive: hope.

After returning back to power in mid-August, reports coming out of the ground confirmed that the Taliban rolled back the women’s rights gained in the past 20 years. The outfit reportedly imposed several restrictions on women, including a ban on women’s sports.

“It was very painful,” said 21-year-old Homaira Barakzai, the captain of the national handball team, who was not able to represent Afghanistan in the Asian Women’s Handball Championship. The games were held last month in Amman, Jordan.

“Everything has changed with the political change (Taliban‘s return). Our only hope right now is to survive. Our future, as athletes, is unknown,” Barakzai was quoted as saying by American broadcaster Voice of America (VOA).
Earlier this month, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the Taliban‘s old approach to the rights of women and girls was largely unchanged. The rights group said that the outfit fired women journalists from state media and warned women to stay at home away from work for their own safety.

“Then they just fired women from most government jobs. They issued tough – and, for many universities, impossible – new guidelines on how women could attend a university, requiring strict gender segregation.”

According to the HRW, the Taliban banned women’s sports, dismantled the system to protect women from violence, abolished the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

Mashhed Barez, a member of Afghanistan‘s national handball team, said that the Taliban ban on women’s sports is “very disappointing.” Barez said the Taliban have not changed from what she heard about the group’s rule in the late 1990s. “If someone thinks that the Taliban have changed, they are mistaken. The Taliban want people to live in poverty and misery,” Barez told VOA.

Last month, the Taliban had barred female employees from entering the Ministry of Women Affairs in Kabul, allowing only males into the building.

Experts believe that these recent developments are similar to the ultraconservative Islamic regime that saw regular stoning, amputations and public executions during Taliban rule before the US-led invasion that followed the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. (ANI)