US delegation expresses concerns over human rights violation in Afghanistan at Doha

During a meeting with Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar, a US delegation expressed deep concern about alleged human rights violations in Afghanistan. 

According to the US State Department, the team, led by Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West, asked the ruling Islamic militant group to take the necessary steps to protect citizens’ rights in the war-torn country.

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In Doha, West led a senior interagency delegation to discuss the situation in Afghanistan with the Taliban. 

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement that US officials were “deeply concerned” about allegations of human rights violations and urged the Taliban to protect the rights of all Afghans. The US also urged the Taliban to stick to and enforce its general amnesty policy, as well as take additional steps to form a representative and inclusive government.

Ned said the US delegation “emphasised the importance of the Taliban fulfilling its public commitment not to allow anyone to pose a threat to any country from the soil of Afghanistan, safe passage for US citizens and Afghans to whom we have a special commitment, the protection of the rights of all of Afghanistan’s citizens, including its women, girls, and minorities, and the safe release of hostage Mark Frerichs”.

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The US is also committed to ensuring that sanctions against the Taliban do not obstruct Afghan civilians’ ability to receive humanitarian aid from the US. 

According to West, the Taliban know that the United States is concerned about reports of retaliatory killings and forced disappearances of former members of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). “We have urged the Taliban to ensure their promise of amnesty is upheld throughout their ranks and hold those responsible to account.

West stated that the US will continue to provide humanitarian aid to the Afghan people, “We’ve provided $474 million this year, applaud the robust efforts of Allies & partners in this space, & are making every effort to help the UN & humanitarian actors scale up to meet needs this winter.”