Richard Lindsay, the UK Special Representative for Afghanistan, said early this morning that he recently met senior Taliban ministers in Kabul.
He said that during the meetings, he called for de-escalation of tensions with Pakistan, the reopening of schools for girls, and permission for women to work.
Lindsay added that in Kabul he also observed closely the vital activities of local media and civil society organizations supported by the United Kingdom.
In another message, the UK Special Representative for Afghanistan expressed concern over ongoing violence along the Durand Line, including attacks in Kunar.
He stressed restraint and dialogue, saying that everything possible must be done to protect civilians and prevent further escalation.
Calls to lift restrictions on women have increased, but the Taliban have paid no attention to these public demands.
UNICEF recently warned in a report that if Taliban restrictions continue, Afghanistan could lose 25,000 female teachers and healthcare workers within the next four years.
Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai, referring to the report, urged the Taliban to lift restrictions on education and stressed that continued bans on girls’ education would weaken national capacity and increase Afghanistan’s dependence on foreign countries.
Zalmay Khalilzad also referred to the UNICEF report and asked whether the Taliban are aware of these imminent consequences. He added: “What provisions are they making to address this self-inflicted problem? If none, what do they imagine will happen to Afghan society?”
