No obstruction to UN work in Afghanistan: Taliban

Following the ban on Afghan women from working at the United Nations, the Taliban’s chief spokesman said on Wednesday that there was no obstacle to the world body’s work in Afghanistan. Last week, the country’s Taliban rulers took another step towards restricting women, saying Afghan female personnel serving at the UN mission could no longer work there. The ban is enforced by the country’s intelligence agency, which reports to the Taliban leadership in Kandahar. The United Nations has said it cannot accept the verdict, calling it illegal and a violation of women’s rights.

The global body said women are playing a key role in providing life-saving aid to millions of Afghan women and it has instructed its male and female personnel in the country to stay at home. Zabihullah Mujahid, chief spokesman for the Taliban-led government and close to the supreme leader, said the decision to bar Afghan women from working at the UN was an internal matter and everyone should abide by it.

He said, “This decision does not mean that discrimination is happening here or the activities of the United Nations are being stopped. On the contrary, we are committed to the rights of all citizens of our country, keeping in mind the religious and cultural interests of our country. According to a statement by the world body, the head of the UN mission in the country, Roza Otunbayeva, has started a review process against the ban. Has started which will run till May 5.

During this period, the United Nations will conduct necessary consultations, make necessary operational adjustments, and expedite contingency plans for all possible outcomes. Already, food supplies have been cut in half due to insufficient resources, the UN humanitarian office said in a tweet on Wednesday. Millions of Afghans will be affected if immediate funding is not ensured.

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