Afghanistan’s return to int’l community impossible without respect for human rights: Germany

On the fourth anniversary of the Islamic Emirate’s return to power, Germany Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Friday warned that Afghanistan’s reintegration into the international community will remain unattainable unless the IEA finally respect the human rights of the Afghan people.

“Under the Taliban (IEA), grave human rights violations have once again become part of everyday life,” Wadephul said in a statement. He pointed out that for women and girls, the past four years have represented a severe rupture—a life without freedom, education, or the right to work.

“A return to the international community will be impossible unless the Taliban (IEA) at last uphold international obligations, above all respect for the Afghan people’s human rights,” Wadephul warned.

The Islamic Emirate has previously said that it respects the rights of women and girls according to the Sharia.

Wadephul also noted that Afghanistan faces a severe humanitarian catastrophe. Over half of the population—around 23 million people—are without adequate access to food, clean drinking water, and medical care. Wadephul highlighted the dire situation facing children and pregnant women, who are suffering from acute malnutrition and the collapse of the country’s healthcare system.

Wadephul said that the situation of the people from the federal admissions programmes who are still in Pakistan is also a source of great concern for Germany.

“Many of them are at risk of being deported. For this reason, we are in high-level contact with the Government of Pakistan to ensure protection for these people and to provide rapid help to those who have been deported or detained in recent days,” he added.