In an open letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General, Afghan Women Coalition for Change (AWCC) has voiced concern over the recent remarks made by Amina Mohammed, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, warning about the recurrence of incidents similar to the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
AWCC has highlighted in its letter to the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, the potential dangers of recognizing the Taliban. The coalition emphasized that such recognition could encourage the growth and spread of other extremist and pro-violence groups, posing a significant threat to international security and the safety of the Afghan people.
AWCC has stated this it is closely monitoring the “concerning actions by the United Nations” to recognize the Taliban as a legitimate government.
“The continued efforts to recognize a terrorist group will only serve to embolden violent extremist groups in Afghanistan, increasing the likelihood of another catastrophic event similar to 9/11,” the coalition’s letter reads.
During their rule of Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, the Taliban transformed the country into a safe haven for terrorist organizations, most notably Al-Qaeda. This relationship was highlighted when Al-Qaeda launched its infamous attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, claiming the lives of over three thousand people. At the time of the attack, Osama bin Laden, the then-leader of Al-Qaeda, was residing in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The close ties between the two groups were further demonstrated last year when Ayman al-Zawahiri, another founder and leader of Al-Qaeda, was killed by a U.S. drone strike in Kabul’s Green Zone.
AWCC has emphasized that the Taliban’s extensive and far-reaching relationships with other terrorist networks present a significant threat to global security. The coalition has warned that recognizing the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan could result in a higher risk of terrorist incidents like the devastating attack on September 11.
AWCC has highlighted the Taliban’s inhumane policies within Afghanistan as an example of their disregard for human rights. The coalition has cautioned the United Nations against trusting the underhanded statements made by the Taliban, as the group’s decision-making power lies in the hands of an invisible leader and a small number of officials, not those who are meeting with foreign diplomats. The coalition has stressed that recognizing the Taliban as a legitimate government while they continue to commit gender apartheid in Afghanistan would constitute a violation of human rights.
AWCC has expressed deep concern in its open letter to Antonio Guterres regarding the Taliban’s systematic violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms in Afghanistan. The letter has cited the Taliban’s persistent violations of the rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of movement, and freedom of religious beliefs as examples of their disregard for basic human rights.
Afghan Women Coalition for Change has expressed its concerns and objections amidst reports that the United Nations is considering the possibility of recognizing the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. It has been reported that a meeting with this agenda is scheduled to take place on May 1, 2023, in Doha, Qatar.
