Afghanistan: Russia calls for aid to avert refugee crisis, inclusivity in government in talks with Taliban

The international community is working to address its approach regarding the Taliban as the insurgent group now has control of Afghanistan. In the latest international talks with the insurgent group, Russia has called for aid to help avert a possible refugee crisis while also calling for a more inclusive government.

The Guardian reports Russia has echoed the demands of the international community on Afghanistan during its recent high-profile discussions with the Taliban. Top Russian diplomats have made clear during the meeting that formal recognition of the insurgent group’s administration would not happen unless it acts to improve human rights and have a more inclusive government. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s representative on Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said that the international community’s main demands were regarding human rights and inclusivity.

This comes as reports revealing concerns that the Taliban are not allowing girls to enter secondary school and women from most work sectors outside healthcare and education. The women’s affairs ministry has also been replaced with the ministry for the prevention of vice and promotion of virtue. Other human rights abuses that were reported since the insurgent group’s takeover was that of reprisal killings despite pledging amnesty as well as driving out members of minority ethnic and religious groups from their homes.

Still, Kabulov said that international aid must be given to Afghanistan to prevent a possible refugee crisis and economic collapse as most countries had frozen Afghanistan’s reserves when the Taliban took over. Kabulov added that the international community must leave out “bias.”

“Not everyone likes the new government in Afghanistan, but by punishing the government, we punish the whole people,” said Kabulov.

Despite Moscow regarding the Taliban as a terrorist group, Russia has kept its embassy open and has been in contact with the Taliban since its takeover of Afghanistan.

Al Jazeera reports that the United Nations has now set up a trust fund to provide money directly to Afghan citizens through a system that taps into donor funds that were frozen during the takeover. The organization said that the trust fund aims to “inject” funds directly into Afghan households in order for them to make it through the coming winter season and remain in the country despite the current political situation.