While the top U.S. diplomat hailed the temporary reduction as a 'historic opportunity for peace,' there are strong doubts about what comes next for Afghanistan nearly 20 years after the U.S. invasion toppled the Taliban government.
, nearly 20 years after the U.S. invasion toppled the Taliban government that harbored the al Qaeda operatives responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks. This comes after years of gains in equality and economic empowerment for women, as well as of devastating violence across the country.
Since then, the truce has largely held, according to Pompeo:"It isn't perfect, but it's working," he told reporters Tuesday."If -- and only if -- it's successful," he added, the chief U.S. negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad and senior Taliban officials will sign a deal on Saturday that means the beginning of a"conditions-based and phased" U.S.
The U.S. will assist those talks, providing structure and support along with other countries like Germany and Norway, he said.Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani attends a news conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, Dec. 3, 2019.The talks will bring together a Taliban delegation with other Afghan leaders, including tribal chiefs and members of the government.
"What we Afghan women fear is that this situation will get worse after international forces withdraw from Afghanistan next year. We fear we will lose our rights and security, particularly if the Taliban are brought back into government," according to Tamana Heela, an Afghan women's rights activist."Afghan women need continued international support to ensure that doesn't happen.
The Taliban have been"calling the shots," Mahbouba Seraj, a women's rights activist, told ABC News last June."They want to get anything and everything the way they want to. Amongst them, of course, is our freedom, whatever we have so far and what we have worked so hard with the help of the world to get for the last 18, 19 years."
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
Hard-fought rights of Afghan women at risk as U.S.-Taliban deal offers no protectionsAndrea Mitchell questions Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about the planned U.S-Taliban agreement, and the future of the role of the United States in protecting women's rights in the country. Pompeo suggests that Afghans should take the lead on women's rights and not the U.S., despite prior bipartisan commitments otherwise.
Les mer »
US upbeat on Taliban peace, warns Afghan leadersThe United States plans to sign an agreement with the Taliban on Saturday in Qatar if the week-long truce holds. Four days in, the number of Taliban attacks has fallen dramatically.
Les mer »
Exclusive: U.S. wants Afghan president to postpone planned inauguration -sourcesThe United States wants Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to defer his second-term i...
Les mer »
Afghan wheelchair basketball captain hopes peace gives team a shot at ParalympicsOne of thousands of Afghans badly injured during years of conflict, Nilofar Baya...
Les mer »
Hard-fought rights of Afghan women at risk as U.S.-Taliban deal offers no protectionsAndrea Mitchell questions Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about the planned U.S-Taliban agreement, and the future of the role of the United States in protecting women's rights in the country. Pompeo suggests that Afghans should take the lead on women's rights and not the U.S., despite prior bipartisan commitments otherwise.
Les mer »
US upbeat on Taliban peace, warns Afghan leadersThe United States plans to sign an agreement with the Taliban on Saturday in Qatar if the week-long truce holds. Four days in, the number of Taliban attacks has fallen dramatically.
Les mer »