Asif Ali Durani, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, welcomed the Islamic Emirate’s efforts in combating corruption, reducing drug production, and improving security, during the launch of a book titled “The Return of the Taliban: International and Regional Perspectives.”
However, Durani says that there are still concerns about the prohibition of girls’ education and women’s right to work in Afghanistan.
“Significantly, while many have acknowledged the positive aspects of change in Afghanistan 3 years ago including less corruption, drastic reduction of poppy cultivation and improvement in the overall security situation, there are concerns for girls’ education and women’s right to work, something no society — Islamic or otherwise — will allow to happen,” Durrani said.
Sohail Mahmood, head of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, also emphasized the need for the Islamic Emirate to fulfill its commitments to establishing an inclusive government and respecting human rights.
Sohail Mahmood said: “The interim government needs to abide by the pledges they made in Doha relating to inclusivity, respect for the rights of all afghans, and above all not allowing Afghanistan’s territory to be used against any country.”
Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, told TOLOnews that the production of narcotics in the country has nearly reached zero.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has acted with seriousness, decisiveness, and wise management in eradicating narcotics and has achieved significant success. You can see that drug production in Afghanistan is nearing zero,” he added.
Islamic Emirate officials have previously emphasized that countries should not interfere in Afghanistan’s internal matters, particularly regarding human rights issues and girls’ education.