After almost four years after Afghanistan’s takeover by Taliban, there is no qualitative change in the status of women in Afghanistan. In a UN meeting held on April 29, there was widespread criticism of Taliban’s gender policy that features barring women and girls from studying at schools and universities; preventing women from working in aid agencies and visiting public parks and government offices; and restricting them from travel if not accompanied by a male guardian. Thus the Taliban regime is not recognised and legitimised by the majority of UN member states.
Taliban deny allegations of suppression of women rights arguing that they only follow Islamic principles. Since August 15, 2021 when the Taliban took control over Kabul, there is lot of propaganda from their side about building network of roads and infrastructure so as to dispel the notion of negative transformation of Afghanistan. Ironically, despite knowing that the Taliban regime has imposed a dictatorial rule and suppressed the fundamental rights of people, countries like China, India, Pakistan and Russia are expanding their cooperation with Kabul. As a result, the confidence of Taliban regime, despite international criticism, is growing with each passing day.
The Taliban control the whole of Afghanistan and do not either face any external or internal threat, like the Northern Alliance in the past. Even then, the Taliban regime feels insecure particularly from non-conformists and women population. By not granting girls and women equal status, the Taliban regime has led to gender apartheid in Afghanistan.
According to a report, “Taliban restrictions on women’s rights deepens Afghanistan crisis”, published on February 23, 2023 by........