The United States has been forced by allies to postpone its withdrawal from Afghanistan to allow more time to evacuate those who want to flee the country, now that it is ruled by Taliban fighters. US troops controlling Kabul airport – the only one in the country to function – must leave by August 31, reports “Darik.”
The United Kingdom is hosting a G7 summit, warning that “not everyone will come out”. The Taliban have warned of consequences if foreign forces remain after the deadline agreed with the United States. Currently, 5,800 American soldiers are on the ground. President Joe Biden will decide within the next 24 hours whether to extend his stay, an official told Reuters.
The United States has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of approximately 48,000 people since the start of heavy air traffic on August 14, the White House said. Others who want to escape remain crowded at or near Kabul International Airport. Many fleeing people, especially those who have worked with foreign forces, live in fear of repression by a group that imposed a harsh version of Islamic law when it was in power from 1996 to 2001.
The UN chief of human rights has expressed serious concern about the situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban came to power. Michelle Bachelet said their attitude towards women would be a “fundamental red line”.
In a statement ahead of an emergency session on Afghanistan, Bachelet called on the Taliban to honor commitments to respect the rights of women and girls, ethnic and religious minorities and to refrain from repression.
“It is now the sole responsibility of the Taliban to make these commitments a reality,” she said.
“I strongly urge the Taliban to adopt norms of responsive governance and human rights and to work to restore social cohesion and reconciliation, including by respecting the rights of all those affected by the decades-long conflict,” Bachelet told the council.
“The main red line will be the Taliban’s attitude towards women and girls,” she said, calling for “respect for their right to liberty, freedom of movement, education, self-expression and employment.”
Special attention is paid to providing access to quality secondary education for girls, which will be a key indicator of government commitment to human rights, Bachelet said.
Today’s meeting came as US troops made increasingly desperate efforts to evacuate thousands from Kabul after the Taliban warned that the evacuation could only continue for another week, AFP reported.
Crowds continue to gather outside the airport, with many Afghans afraid to stay under Taliban rule.
The militants repeatedly promised rule other than their brutal regime in the 1990s, when women had to remain locked in their homes, most entertainment was banned, and punishments included stoning and public executions.
The change they promised is viewed with skepticism amid reports that Taliban fighters have been going door-to-door in recent days looking for opponents, including journalists.
As soon as it is taken over by the Taliban, the UN says there has been a sharp increase in civilian casualties in Afghanistan in recent months.
Bachelet said her office had received reliable information about serious violations in Taliban-controlled places, including executions, restrictions on women’s rights, stopping girls from attending school and recruiting children for the military.
“Human rights violations undermine the legitimacy of the perpetrators, both in relation to the people and in relation to regional and international institutions and other countries,” the UN human rights chief warned.
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