The Taliban government of Afghanistan expressed hope for a “new chapter” in its relationship with the United States following Donald Trump’s election win. Taliban spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi stated that the new Trump administration could take realistic steps toward improving bilateral relations, building on the 2020 Doha peace agreement that facilitated the US withdrawal and ended the 20-year occupation.
Balkhi reminded that the agreement, signed under Trump, paved the way for the withdrawal, although it excluded Afghanistan’s then-government. While the US withdrawal under President Joe Biden faced criticism for its chaotic execution, with the Taliban quickly reclaiming Kabul, Trump has criticized Biden’s handling of the retreat.
The Taliban government, which seized power following the US withdrawal, remains unrecognized by any country, partly due to its restrictions on women’s rights, such as limiting access to education and employment. Critics, including former Afghan parliament member Fawzia Koofi, have condemned the Taliban’s policies and called for pressure on the regime regarding women’s rights.
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