US Special Representative to Afghanistan, Thomas West, met with a delegation yesterday led by Malawi Mohammed Yaqub. West tweeted that he took the opportunity to meet them to raise the deteriorating human rights situation, particularly for women & girls, & discuss shared interests in an Afghanistan that’s stable, prosperous, & at peace.
West further noted that he called on the Taliban to respect women & girls’ rights to be educated & to work so that they can support their families and that the country’s economic & social stability & the Taliban’s domestic & international legitimacy depend enormously on their treatment of Afghanistan’s mothers & daughters.
West and Yaqub also discussed Afghanistan’s security situation, the Taliban’s continuing efforts against Daesh, steps to improve the business environment, and the international community’s robust response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
As of today, the Special Envoy met with UAE government colleagues to discuss shared interests in Afghanistan, including the protection of Afghans’ fundamental rights, economic stabilization, guarding against the re-emergence of terrorist threats, and robust humanitarian response. West wrote on Twitter that the UAE is playing an important role, is active in diplomacy, is a long-time hub for Afghan businesses looking to grow the economy & has important ties with many communities of influence. He further said that the US will continue vital coordination with UAE on shared priorities in Afghanistan, from getting girls back in secondary school to encouraging policies that attract investment.
