Doha Agreement, although significant, was contentious as it excluded the then Afghan government and failed to secure a ceasefire or any formal peace arrangement with the government in Kabul
News Desk
KABUL: Afghanistan’s Taliban government expressed hope on Wednesday for a “new chapter” in relations with the United States following the potential presidential victory of Donald Trump. The statement, issued by Taliban foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi on X, reflects the group’s anticipation that the future Trump administration might take “realistic steps” to improve ties between the two countries.
Balkhi pointed to the Doha Agreement, a peace deal signed in February 2020 between the Taliban and the US under Trump, as a foundation for future relations, highlighting that it led to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and ended two decades of occupation. The Doha Agreement, although significant, was contentious as it excluded the then Afghan government and failed to secure a ceasefire or any formal peace arrangement with the government in Kabul.
Critics, particularly Republicans, have blamed President Joe Biden for the chaotic manner in which the US withdrawal unfolded, citing the terrorist bombing at Kabul airport in August 2021 that killed 13 US servicemen, as well as the swift return of the Taliban to power. Trump, throughout his presidential campaign, made Biden’s handling of the withdrawal a focal point of criticism, emphasizing the need for a more structured exit strategy from Afghanistan.
Despite the historical accord, the Taliban government has not received recognition from any country, with one of the main sticking points being their severe restrictions on women’s rights, including their access to education and employment. The U.N. has labeled these measures as “gender apartheid.” Taliban officials, like Inamullah Samangani, have attempted to justify the exclusion of women from many aspects of public life, even going so far as to suggest that the US is not ready to hand leadership to a woman, referencing the criticism of Biden’s administration by some of its own political figures.
Afghan women’s rights activists, however, have sharply criticized both the US withdrawal and the Taliban’s ongoing repression. Fawzia Koofi, a former member of the Afghan parliament, congratulated Trump on his electoral success but also condemned the lack of sustained pressure on the Taliban regarding women’s rights. Koofi, a vocal advocate for women’s empowerment, argued that denying women their basic rights to work and education will ultimately hinder Afghanistan’s long-term prosperity.
