Afghanistan's supreme leader on Friday (April 29th) called on the international community to recognize the Taliban government, saying the world had become a "
small village
" and that restoring diplomatic relations would help solve the country's problems.
No country has formally recognized the new Afghan regime, put in place after the Taliban returned to power in August.
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In a message broadcast on Friday, a few days before Eid al-Fitr, the "
festival of the breaking of the fast
" which marks the end of the month of Ramadan, the supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, did not expand on the points friction with the international community, especially the reopening of secondary schools for girls.
On the contrary, he believed that recognition was the priority “
so that we can resolve our problems formally and in accordance with diplomatic norms and principles
”.
“
Without a shadow of a doubt, the world has turned into a small village
added Hibatullah Akhundzada, who lives reclusively in Kandahar, the spiritual center of the Taliban, and had never been seen in public between his appointment in 2016 and the return to power of the Taliban.
In October, Islamists released an audio recording of the supreme leader at an event billed as a public outing, but his presence there has never been independently confirmed.
Some analysts even continue to doubt that he is still alive.
“
Afghanistan has its role to play in world peace and stability.
As such, the world should recognize the Islamic Emirate,
” he added.
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This message is published as the security situation seems to be deteriorating again in Afghanistan, after having improved a lot since the Taliban came to power.
Several bomb attacks, often claimed by the Islamic State group and targeting the Shiite Hazara minority, have been carried out in recent weeks across the country.
Hibatullah Akhundzada did not directly allude to it, but was delighted that Afghanistan had been able to create “
a strong Islamic and national army
”, as well as a “
solid intelligence service
”.
Much of the international community wants the recognition and humanitarian aid that Afghanistan desperately needs to be directly linked to respect for women's rights.
Respect for Sharia
When they returned to power, the Taliban had promised to be more flexible than during their first regime (1996-2001), when women were deprived of almost all their rights.
But they have again gradually eroded these rights, sweeping away 20 years of freedom won by women.
They are now excluded from public employment, prohibited from traveling alone or forced to dress according to a strict interpretation of Sharia, Islamic law.
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In March, the Taliban made high schools and colleges close to girls, just hours after their long-announced reopening.
This unexpected volte-face, which was not justified except to say that the education of girls must be done in accordance with Sharia law, scandalized the international community.
Several Taliban officials told AFP that this decision was taken personally by Hibatullah Akhundzada.
He did not address the issue in his message, but said authorities were opening new madrassas (Koranic schools) and schools to foster both "
religious and modern education
".
"
We respect and defend all Sharia rights for men and women in Afghanistan (…) Do not use this humanitarian and emotional issue as a tool for political purposes
”, he further pleaded.
He also believed that Afghans should adopt Taliban ideals on their own, without being forced to.
"
Relevant authorities should urge people to observe Sharia wisely and avoid extremism
," he said.
Hibatullah Akhundzada also said the government was determined to respect freedom of speech within the framework of "
Islamic values
".
The Taliban have however since August closed hundreds of media, banned music in public and prevented the broadcasting of films or series including women.
