MONITORING (SW) – The top US diplomats for Afghanistan have reiterated call for restoration of rights of women and girls.
U.S. Special Envoy, Rina Amiri and U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West held a telephonic conversation with the Islamic Emirate’s foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and underscored restoration of rights of women and girls and protection of vulnerable populations as essential to any progress with the Taliban.
In a series of tweets, Rina Amiri said: “Raised concerns regarding dissolution of AIHRC & constitution & reconciliation commissions & stressed that this contradicts demands of Afghans for greater accountability & needs to be remedied”.
On his part, Thomas West said the US diplomats conveyed ‘unified international opposition’ to ongoing and expanding restrictions on women and girls’ rights and role in society.
“Girls must be back in school, women free to move & work w/o restrictions for progress to normalized relations. Also discussed economic stabilization to support Afghan people, concerns about terrorist attacks on civilians, and recent dissolution of important institutions”, he tweeted, adding that dialogue will continue in support of Afghan people and the US national interests.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Abdul Qahar Balkhi said in a statement that minister Muttaqi told the US diplomats that the Afghan women were serving in education, health, passport and other areas; Afghan women do not oppose Hijab decree and a decree to ban the cultivation of narcotics has been issued as well as implemented.
“To end, both sides agreed on continued interactions to tackle the hurdles patiently and to address the challenges together”, said the statement.
ENDS
