Afghan Taliban Talks

With the recent talks between the Afghanistan government officials and the Taliban, the one question that I could not get out of my mind was, if the Taliban is allowed to have even a partial role in any new administration, then what will happen to woman's rights in the country.

Over the weekend, Saudi Arabia hosted talks between the two, in order to try and stabilise the region and bring peace. While I am usually a peace activist, I cannot help but think of what might happen to Afghanistan if the Taliban is allowed back.

All three parties in the negotiations have horrendous human rights records so will the Taliban really make that much of a difference?

I think the major difference in Afghanistan now is how women in Afghanistan have now started to have a voice. There are no female members of parliament, women are allowed to go to work and attend school, and women no longer are forced to wear the burqa to cover their entire body.

But woman's rights in a country which has deprived women of any rights for so long, takes a long time to filter through until it is mainstream. My concern is if the Taliban is allowed to return back, what will happen to that forward momentum for woman's rights.

It is a very tough question. The possibility of peace which may end the bloodshed, or the rights of women.

- Beju -

Tags: Afghanistan, Taliban, Saudi-Arabia, Counteract-Now, Left-Wing, Politics, Social, Human-Rights, Amnesty