Images of women have been covered up or vandalised on storefronts around Kabul, AFP has reported.
One of the salons in Kabul has been whitewashed to cover up advertisements pasted on its outdoor walls, showing the faces of smiling women in bridal regalia.
Another shuttered salon, spotted on Tuesday as a Taliban fighter patrolled the street outside with an assault rifle slung over his shoulder, had its walls defaced with black spray paint to conceal the visages of its models.
“The Islamic Emirate is committed to the rights of women within the framework of the Sharia. Our sisters, our women will have the same rights and will be able to benefit from them,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid saidon Tuesday.
“They can have activities in different sectors and areas on the basis of our rules and regulations — in education, health, and other areas,” he said, adding that they will “work with us shoulder-to-shoulder”.
Terrifying stories of mistreatment of women in Afghanistan are being discussed on social media and are also being reported by news outlets ever since the Taliban started gaining control of Afghanistan two months ago.
Pakistani Twitter has lashed out at ministers of the ruling party for celebrating the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Two notable Ministers, including Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul and Federal Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari, tweeted on the situation in Afghanistan.
WAIT A MINUTE…WHAT’S HAPPENING IN AFGHANISTAN?
In a rapid turn of events, President Ghani of Afghanistan has reportedly fled the country as the Taliban enter Kabul, amidst severe criticism from his opponents, saying that now is not the time for him to leave his country as the dreaded Taliban come back to rule once more.
The Taliban took the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, late on Saturday, and on Sunday morning, they seized the city of Jalalabad. They are now in control of the Torkham border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Within a week they have taken down Afghan government flags and hoisted their own white banners.
Despite two decades of war with American-led forces, and reportedly more than 83 billion dollars spent by the US, the Taliban have survived and are now effectively in control of Pakistan’s neighbouring country. They have managed to do this in 10 days time with little resistance from the Afghan forces.
WHAT DID PAKISTANI POLITICIANS DO ON TWITTER?
Zartaj Gul in a tweet said, “India gets an appropriate gift on its Independence Day- its fascist terror-oriented Government should celebrate now today with tears and sorrow.”
“The Kabul regime it used to wreak terrorism in Pakistan across many years has fallen and people are rejoicing all across Afghanistan,” said Zataj Gul in a tweet, which was later deleted.
People on social media are calling out the ministers for their tweets.
Shireen Mazari posted an image of the US leaving from Vietnam after the war ended in 1975 with an image of a US carrier leaving Afghanistan. Many on Twitter thought it was a ‘celebration’ of the US leaving an occupied territory, although she tried to clear her stance that it is not what she meant.
Madam this is beyond ignorant. This is debilitating to our relationship with the most influential stakeholder in the world and a key relationship for us as we navigate a world full of crisis. What are you doing?????
Different shades of hypocritic apologists. All out of their holes today. Look out for all those celebrating the take-over with guns and by force. Trying desperate to project a renaissance. Would always prefer a US visa over Afghanistan’s for them and children.
According to a video message circulating on social media, the former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai has said that he will stay in Kabul with his family.
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he is remaining in Kabul with his daughters and his family, calls on the Taliban and Afghan army to protect Afghans.
Three diplomatic sources said Ali Ahmad Jalali, a US-based academic and former Afghan interior minister, could be named head of an interim administration in Kabul, though it was unclear whether the Taliban had agreed, Reuters has reported.
A Taliban spokesman has told the BBC that the group “will respect rights of women” as it takes control of Afghanistan.
A spokesperson for the Taliban, Suhail Shaheen, told BBC News: “We will respect rights of women…our policy is that women will have access to education and work, to wear the hijab.”
PAKISTAN’S STANCE:
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says Pakistan will keep on playing a positive role in the establishment of peace in Afghanistan. Addressing the media in Multan, he said the whole world has acknowledged Pakistan’s stance regarding the Afghanistan issue. He further said that Afghan people want peace in their country and they are to decide their future for themselves. The minister added that Pakistan has no favourites in Afghanistan and whoever forms the government there, Pakistan will accept it.
Meanwhile, an Afghan political delegation led by Wolesi Jirga Speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani arrived in Pakistan on Sunday evening.
Political leadership of Afghanistan in the State Lounge at Islamabad International Airport. pic.twitter.com/gwQI6wiMKC
Just received a high level Afghan political leadership delegation including Speaker Ulusi Jirga Mir Rehman Rehmani, Salah-ud-din Rabbani, Mohammad Yunus Qanooni, Ustad Mohammad Karim Khalili, Ahmad Zia Massoud, Ahmad Wali Massoud, Abdul Latif Pedram, and Khalid Noor.
The capital of Afghanistan, Kabul, can be isolated by the Taliban within the next 72 hours, CNN has reported. A diplomatic source told CNN that one intelligence assessment indicated that Kabul could be isolated by the Taliban within the week, possibly within the next 72 hours, but stressed that does not mean the militant group would enter the capital.
CNN also reports that personnel at the US Embassy in Kabul have been instructed to delete sensitive and materials “which could be misused in propaganda efforts”, as soon as possible. As per details, a notice was sent to the embassy staff with the instructions.
The act of destroying sensitive material is a standard procedure applied to minimise the US footprint.
“Drawdowns at our diplomatic posts around the world follow a standard operating procedure designed to minimise our footprint across various categories, including staffing, equipment, and supplies. Kabul Embassy is conducting their drawdown in accordance with this standard operating procedure,” a US State Department spokesperson said.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that Afghanistan is spinning out of control. Every day, the conflict is taking a bigger toll on civilians, especially women and children. He also reminded all the parties of their obligation to protect civilians.
Afghanistan is spinning out of control. Every day, the conflict is taking a bigger toll on civilians, especially women & children.
I remind all parties of their obligation to protect civilians & I call on the Taliban to immediately end the offensive & return to the peace table.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is here for a four-day visit to Pakistan.
Guterres landed in Islamabad on Sunday. Talking to the media he said that “One of the main purposes of my visit is to spotlight the real Pakistan with all its possibility and potential.”
The UN chief spoke at an international press conference titled 40 years of Afghan Refugees Presence in Pakistan: A New Partnership for Solidarity, where he praised Pakistan for being the world’s second-largest refugee-hosting country.
He also met Mahira Khan, who was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador in November and is working with the UN Refugee Agency. Guterres took to twitter and thanked Mahira Khan and all Pakistanis for their support.
As we mark 40 years of Pakistan’s solidarity with Afghan refugees, it was a pleasure to meet @Refugees Goodwill Ambassador @TheMahiraKhanI thank her and all Pakistanis for their extraordinary support. pic.twitter.com/wsdsSestCk
Khan retweeted Guterres and wrote: “It was a pleasure meeting you as well. Looking forward to a lot more work alongside my fellow Pakistanis and @Refugees @antonioguterres.”
Before the appointment, Khan visited Afghan refugees in Peshawar in 2018 as part of a high-profile UN delegation. She has also spoken up for the needs of more than 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
