Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister, said “men will represent women at the assembly for national unity. On Thursday, thousands of Afghan religious intellectuals and tribal leaders gathered in the capital.” It was a men-only gathering in which the Taliban hoped to cement their conservative Islamic autonomy.
It comes just a week after a huge earthquake devastated the country’s east, killing over 1,000 people and displacing tens of thousands. The meeting was held without the presence of any women.
Mr. Hanafi went on to say that “women would not take part in legislative activity. The male delegates would speak for them.”
According to Khaama Press, a senior Taliban official revealed that the assembly was summoned at the request of the Ulema and that the Taliban organized it so that they could discuss a variety of themes, including the Islamic regime, national unity, and economic and social development.
The gathering was quite similar to a ‘Loya Jirga. ‘Loya Jirga is also known as grand council’ is a traditional form of decision-making in Afghanistan. It is a customary gathering of Afghan male representatives from various tribes and groups. The representatives at this meeting are chosen by their local authorities.
Some leaders, including former republic President Ashraf Ghani, have previously used this practice. Ghani called a Loya jirga in 2020 before deciding to free hundreds of Taliban prisoners to advance peace talks.
Previously, the Taliban had suspended secondary education for girls and women. They’ve also mandated a stringent kind of hijab. They have also limited outside activities. They have also limited the participation of women in politics and public life. It was designed to suit the pattern of strict gender segregation, which seeks to make women invisible in society.
However, civil society organizations have vehemently criticized the decision, calling the gathering illegitimate given the absence of women.
For many years, Afghan women have had complete independence in the country. They now face a dismal future as a result of a slew of restrictions placed by the Taliban on many parts of their lives within a few months of Afghanistan’s takeover.
Afghanistan’s economy has suffered tremendously in recent years. After the Taliban took control, numerous international sanctions were imposed on the financial sector. The country is in a severe economic crisis as billions of dollars in central bank deposits have been frozen.
Washington, DC has stated that it is attempting to find banking solutions that benefit the Afghan people rather than the Taliban. Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister, traveled to Doha on Wednesday to interact with Americans about the banking industry, according to a statement from the administration.
International governments have also urged the Taliban to reverse its decision to open girls’ high schools in March and to require women to cover their faces and travel with a male chaperone.
Foreign countries have also called for an Afghan government that is representative of all Afghans. At present, Taliban members hold key ministerial positions on an acting basis, and the group has ruled out elections.
Taliban is a political and military organization of Islamic fundamentalists based in Afghanistan. They have dominated Afghan politics for a long time and are frequently mentioned in international news. See here.
Last year, the Taliban gained possession of Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital city, raising concerns about the US and NATO-trained Afghan forces.
In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, Taliban fighters took control of the city for the first time since their ouster 20 years ago. They first took control of the capital in 1996.
Given its long-standing interest in Afghanistan’s success and its people’s traditional warmth, India should find it easier to make that leap. As a result, India can consider appointing a special envoy and begin Track II diplomacy with the Taliban.
India may felicitate emergency visas and evacuation of anyone in the country’s vicinity who are in danger.
