The Taliban needs to implement its commitments step by step to gain legitimacy, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West said, adding that Washington hasn’t forgotten the country yet and it remains a priority for them. Eight months since coming to power, the Taliban’s interim government is yet to gain recognition from the international community.

“I do not think that with the behavior of the Taliban (IEA), they will gain legitimacy,” West said in an interview with Ariana News. “The Taliban will have the opportunity to gain legitimacy by implementing their commitments step-by-step,” he added.

Since August last year, when the hardline Islamist group came to power in Afghanistan, toppling the US-backed democratic government, the ultra-conservative group has taken a series of measures, reversing much of the country’s socio-economic progress witnessed in the last two decades.

Women remain out of most jobs, the ministry of women affairs was abolished, girls’ schools are yet to be opened. The Taliban’s official talks with the US remain suspended, However, West claimed that Washington was in touch with the Taliban leaders.

Western countries suspended their development assistance after the Taliban seized power militarily, plunging the country into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Over 97 percent of Afghans don’t have enough to eat while 23 million out of over 32 million need urgent direct food assistance, UN agencies estimated.

In the interview with Ariana News, the special representative claimed that the Taliban can gain global legitimacy by fulfilling their obligations including allowing women to work and all girls to go to school.

“Our hopes have not been completely dashed,” West said, adding, “Taliban leaders pledged to us at the China summit, and we still hope they let girls go to school and women work.” 

When asked if Afghanistan is still a priority for Washington,  West said, “Yes, Afghanistan is still a priority for the United States, and the US leadership is still paying attention to Afghanistan. No, Afghanistan has not been forgotten, even the issue of Afghanistan is a priority for us over Ukraine.”

Rina Amiri, US special envoy for Afghanistan’s women, girls, and human rights, said the Muslim-majority countries needed to champion the cause of Afghan women and girls. “Taliban policies denying girls and women education and jobs aren’t seen in any other Muslim-majority country,” she said.

(SAM)