Nasir Ahmad Faiq: Taliban Have Shown No Willingness to Respond to the Legitimate Demands of the Afghan People

He emphasized in this meeting that despite repeated calls for the formation of an inclusive and accountable government that represents the will and participation of all segments of society, especially women, the Taliban have imposed a government that prioritizes exclusivity over unity.

Faiq also pointed to the disproportionate harms of the Taliban's repressive policies against women and girls, describing these restrictions as a form of gender apartheid. He added that these policies amount to destroying half of Afghanistan's potential and pushing society towards backwardness.

He also emphasized that in addition to gender issues, ethnic and religious minorities, including the Hazara community, are facing harassment, discrimination, and targeted attacks.

Faiq noted that one of the most worrying issues is the Taliban's revenge against former security forces and government officials and that despite promises of amnesty, reports of arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings of former military personnel continue.

The acting Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the UN continued by saying that the Taliban's policies do not reflect the true Islamic values or the traditions of the Afghan people and that these policies deepen the cycle of poverty, dependency, and conflict in Afghanistan.

He also supported the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and, in addition to calling for the recognition of gender apartheid, called for the establishment of an independent accountability mechanism for Afghanistan to complement the work of the Special Rapporteur.

Faiq welcomed the initiative of Germany, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands to hold the Taliban accountable under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and stated that this initiative, which may be brought to the International Court of Justice, demonstrates a global commitment to holding the Taliban accountable for human rights violations.

He emphasized the need for a unified and human rights-based approach by the international community, saying: "We call for a principled stance in interactions that makes measurable progress in the field of human rights a prerequisite for any dialogue with the Taliban. This approach will strengthen accountability and place human rights at the center of diplomatic efforts."

In conclusion, Faiq referred to the dark reality facing the Afghan people today, which is rapidly threatening their freedom, dignity, and security, and emphasized that the international community cannot remain indifferent to this situation.