Excellency Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States,
Greetings!
First, your presence as the vice president of the United States of America is a great achievement in the historic struggle of women for freedom, justice, and equal opportunity, not only in the United States but around the world.
Excellency Madam Vice President,
I am writing to you from Afghanistan, a country whose fate will undoubtedly be one of the most difficult missions for you and President Biden’s administration. The United States decision to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan has grave consequences for the security and stability of Afghanistan and especially the fate of almost 15 million Afghan women. We are in danger of losing our liberties and rights.
We, Afghan women, know firsthand that the 20 years presence of the United States has greatly contributed to the rebuilding of Afghanistan, education for men and women, and respect for human rights. Before September 11, 2001, under the Taliban regime, we, Afghan women, were deprived of our basic rights as humans. In that dark period, even being a woman was considered a taboo.
The US and international support gave us the right to work, the right to participate in community life, and the right to be part of socio-political affairs. With the support of the US and the international community, Afghan women have achieved meaningful voting and political participation for the first time in Afghanistan’s history. We have become presidential candidates, doctors, academics, jurists, journalists, members of parliament, and helped build the Afghan economy as successful entrepreneurs. More importantly, we now hold more government seats than ever in Afghan history.
These achievements are the manifestation of democratic values and the proud record of the United States and the international community in Afghanistan. Today, the Afghan women who embody these values are considered role models for women leaders and in the greater Middle East.
Excellency Madam Vice President,
We, Afghan women, know and understand that these achievements came at a very high price in blood and treasure. More than 2,300 American soldiers have been killed and more than 20,000 US troops and citizens wounded in the last 20 years, alongside the enormous sacrifice of the Afghan security forces. We salute and remember these noble sacrifices. We share the sorrow and tragedy of American families who lost their loved ones in Afghanistan, loved ones who supported the struggle to defend our liberties, freedom and our democratic rights against the extremist ideology of the Taliban and their allies. We, Afghan women, do not take these great sacrifices for granted.
Excellency Madam Vice President,
President Biden’s decision to withdraw all American troops in a very short time has created a security gap that has enabled the Taliban and their allies, including ISIS and Al Qaeda, to capture many districts. The Taliban have made it eminently clear that their policy and vision towards women has not changed. These men do not recognize human rights, women’s rights, or democratic values. They aim to take away all our gains and throw us back to the dark ages. This has consequences not just for Afghanistan, but for the world.
We appreciate President Biden’s public pledges of continued support for the people of Afghanistan, despite the troop withdrawal. As the beacon of democracy across the globe, we expect the Biden administration, and you as vice president of the United States, not to leave Afghanistan, particularly Afghan women, alone in their struggle for liberty and justice.
That is why we, Afghan women, are asking the Biden administration to:
1) Commit to offering enduring humanitarian aid to Afghan women’s organizations across the country;
2) commit to offering enduring financial and logistical support for the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces;
3) Publicly denounce the Taliban’s campaign of violence and their continued violations of women’s rights;
4) Pressure, whether by sanctions or other means, the Taliban’s enablers, particularly Pakistan, to halt their support;
5) Lead a truly multilateral peacebuilding effort, involving all relevant actors with a vested interest in a peaceful Afghanistan, including the US, NATO allies, India, Russia, China, and the United Nations.
Your presence in the White House as the vice president is an inspiration for women all around the world, and especially for us. The future and fate of the 15 million Afghan women and the protection of our achievements depends on our joint and shared struggle. Your continuous support proves to the world, and the Taliban supporters in the region, that the sacrifice of thousands of Americans and Afghans are not in vain.
With gratitude,
Fatima Roshanian
Chief Editor, Nimrokh Weekly
