US imposes visa restrictions on Taliban leaders for repressing women's rights

New Delhi: The United States has imposed visa restrictions on current, former Taliban leaders, non-state security group members, and others believed to be repressing women and girls' rights in Afghanistan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Meanwhile, the ruling Taliban's foreign office condemned such a move. It said that they consider the recent statement by the US State Department on visa restrictions as an obstacle to developing ties between the two sides.

The statement also said, "Our bilateral interactions have proven that pressure does not help resolve issues," the interim foreign ministry of Afghanistan said.

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The foreign ministry, in strong words, asked the US to remain committed to the "Doha Agreement" and, through implementation, demonstrate that legal documents and agreements signed with the US are trustworthy, adding that the ministry is ready to discuss all outstanding issues with the US.

The US State Department, in a press statement, said that the ruling Taliban government could not expect the respect and support of the international community until they respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans, including women and girls.

"I am taking action today to impose additional visa restrictions on certain current or former Taliban members, members of non-state security groups, and other individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, repressing women and girls in Afghanistan through restrictive policies and violence, including the Taliban's decision to ban women from universities and from working with NGOs," the statement said.

"The immediate family members of such persons may also be subject to these visa restrictions, enacted under Section 212(a)(3)(C) ("3C") of the Immigration and Nationality Act," US Secretary Blinken added in a State Department statement.

The announcement comes more than a month after the Taliban announced bans on women attending universities and working with non-governmental organizations.

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"We continue to coordinate closely with allies and partners around the world on an approach that makes clear to the Taliban that their actions will carry significant costs and close the path to improved relations with the international community, "the statement warned.

Blinken cited those decisions as contributing to the new visa bans and said the US condemns the actions in "the strongest of terms. However, the State Department statement did not name those impacted by the move.

The Taliban's actions have forced over one million school-aged Afghan girls and young women out of the classroom, with more women out of universities and countless Afghan women out of the workforce.

In response, the foreign ministry of Afghanistan, in their statement, said that their ruling government is a responsible government and is committed to all rights of Afghans, which are necessitated by the Islamic religion.

"The interim Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds the United States that despite the financial and banking sanctions, the Afghan government strives to provide its people with a prosperous life," the statement read.

The interim Afghan ruling government also blamed US and others for continuing sanctions on their financial and banking system affecting health and education development.

"The continuation of illegitimate sanctions on the financial and banking system of Afghanistan is a flagrant violation of the human rights of Afghans, restricting access of Afghans to many spheres of a prosperous life, including education and health."

The Afghan ministry also said that the US "must remain committed to the Doha Agreement" and, through implementation, demonstrate that legal documents and agreements signed with the US are trustworthy, adding that the ministry is ready to discuss all outstanding issues with the US.

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The Taliban's most recent edicts ban women from universities and from working with NGOs. Further, the Taliban's previous measures that closed secondary schools to girls for more than 500 days have affected millions of women and girls for further education and working to earn their living.