Afghanistan: Politics and Government

(asked on 29th November 2021) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the state of governance in Afghanistan; and what is their assessment of the international implications of this governance.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 13th December 2021

Afghanistan needs inclusive politics that reflects the country's diversity and represents all its communities, including women. Under the previous government, women held over a quarter of the seats in Afghanistan's parliament. We are deeply concerned about human rights in Afghanistan, including violence and discrimination towards religious minorities, and the rights of women and girls.

We have made inclusivity and human rights central to our contact with the Taliban to date, including the visit to Kabul on 5 October by the Prime Minister's Special Representative for Afghanistan Transition, Sir Simon Gass. The UK remains committed to supporting Afghanistan on its path to a more peaceful future. We will continue to work with international partners to call for freedom of religion, and the rights of women and girls to be respected. For international acceptance, the Taliban must ensure safe passage for those who wish to leave the country, respect the rights of women and girls and prevent Afghanistan from again becoming a place where terrorism flourishes. Alongside human rights, we have prioritised the importance of good governance to help reduce the impact of terrorism, migration and corruption, as well as supporting regional stability.

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