Situation of Afghanistan 2 years after Taliban takeover

Petition

Situation of Afghanistan

2 years after Taliban takeover

15 August 2023

The US-Taliban Doha agreement and subsequent unconditional US withdrawal, alongside the chronic failure of the then ruling Afghan politicians to fight corruption, establish the rule of law and unite for saving the country, resulted to the second takeover by the Taliban two years ago. Islamic republic is replaced by the theocracy of a militant group upholding the most severe interpretation of Sharia. Foreign troops left, but even in the absence of them and the rhetoric of the Taliban over independence, the covered influence of some neighbors on the policies of the Taliban and the presence and control of some World and regional powers in the sky of Afghanistan is still a reality. The full-scale war, once launched by Taliban and its foreign allies, is stopped, but sporadic attacks by IS-Khurasan on civil targets in Afghan cities and Pakistani artillery attacks on villages in East Afghanistan has been going on. Existence of foreign fighters hostile to different regional countries, inside the Afghan territory is a matter of serious national and international concern.

The population, tiered of 45 years of conflict and violence, expect security, a peaceful live, a job, healthcare services, education for their daughters and sons and other fundamental services from their current rulers. Taliban have failed so far to fulfil these expectations. They claim the control of the whole territory of the country, regular fights are stopped but the people of Afghanistan do not feel secure. There is no peace in their day-to-day life because their rulers are repressive and lack internal and international legitimacy, the war-torn country remains vulnerable for eventual new proxy wars to be waged by regional powers.  Food insecurity and dependence on aid is further increased during the two years role of the Taliban from 17 million to 28 million Afghans. Years of draught and lack of agricultural infrastructure does not leave room for sympathy to rely on internal food production. Export of traditional products is restricted by international banking system. Meanwhile the attention of international community to FAO fundraising to respond to this situation in Afghanistan decrease.  A human catastrophe threatens the country in the coming months.

Human rights crisis has replaced the already untidy human rights situation under previous central and local rulers. Freedom of speech is now confined within Taliban rules. Free media is forced to decrease under the Taliban pressure and lack of resources. The Taliban ministry of vice and virtue started its war against women and girls by symbolic occupation of the building of former ministry of Women affairs and then erased women and girls from social life by depriving them from their fundamental human and social rights such as education, work, travel, visiting city parks etc. These restrictions established a situation called as “gender apartheid” by UN Special representative for human rights.

• Having in mind the situation mentioned above, we recommend the international community:

• The population in Afghanistan suffer from severe hardship but the humanitarian aid decrease. While the establishment of the Afghan Trust Fund alleviated some banking problems, serious problems remain, with the result that humanitarian groups, local businesses, and individuals cannot conduct bank transfers. Remittances by Afghan diaspora is also limited due to this problem. International community should find a realistic solution for this problem.

• The UN independent assessment team for Afghanistan should include experts on human rights, especially the rights of women and girls. This team should consult widely with victims of human rights violation, especially women and girls.  The team is expected to propose concrete tools for upholding human rights standards by international community in Afghanistan.
• Continuation of international pressure on Taliban is essential for re-establishment of the rights of women and girls to education and work. Even countries engaged in interaction with Taliban should pressurize them to remove these discriminatory and inhuman restrictions.
• Thousands of Afghans who had fled the country remain in limbo in third countries, including Pakistan, the UAE, Iran, and Turkey, in many cases in dire conditions. Governments engaged with Afghanistan have a responsibility to ensure that Afghans at risk of persecution or harm have meaningful access to legal protection and resettlement.

FAROE is looking forward to seeing progress in the area’s recommended by us.

With regards,

One behalf of the Executive Committee of FAROE

Ali Daliry, chairperson