ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari warned of consequences if Afghanistan’s de facto government are isolated, according to sources, advocating the world’s engagement with the Taliban.
Earlier this week, Zardari said girls’ education in Afghanistan is potentially a path to recognizing Taliban leadership in the country, saying the de facto authority has not fulfilled their commitments.
In an interview with AFP on a visit to Washington, Bilawal cautioned against creating “parallel governance” after the United States, distrustful of the Taliban, put Afghanistan’s frozen assets in a professional fund in Switzerland.
“We’ve learned from the past that when we wash our hands and turn our backs, we end up creating unintended consequences and more problems for ourselves,” Bilawal said on Tuesday, as Dawn quoted.
“I believe that our concerns of an economic collapse, of an exodus of refugees, of a threat of new recruits for organisations such as ISIS-K and others, outweigh concerns that there may be about their financial institutions,” he added.
According to Bilawal, the Taliban leadership needed “political space” on concerns such as women’s rights, which have been sharply curtailed.
“Throughout history, theocratic, autocratic regimes haven’t exactly tended to expand rights at times of economic strife,” he said, as Dwan quoted. “In fact, they tend to hold on to cultural issues and other issues to engage their population.”
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KEEP READING:
- A Year of Extreme Violence, Poverty, Natural Disaster under Taliban Rule
- Blinken Gauges Taliban Promises on Girls Education in Afghanistan
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Earlier this week, Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said girls’ education in Afghanistan is potentially a path to recognizing Taliban leadership in the country, saying the de facto government has not fulfilled their commitments.
Zardari in a recent interview with FRANCE 24 said the Islamic Emirate has not fulfilled their promises to the international community, and this had precluded recognition of their government.
“It would help the government of Afghanistan gain legitimacy and perhaps a path to recognition if they were to live up to those expectations, one of which is female education,” said Zardari, as TOLOnews quoted.
“Now, our Afghan neighbors do say that as far as primary education is concerned they allow girls to go to primary schools…what we are waiting for is secondary education,” he elaborated.
Bilawal, the Oxford-educated 34-year-old scion of a preeminent political dynasty, took office five months ago amid political turbulence after a no-confidence vote saw the ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan.
