Taliban Reject Fresh US Criticism of Kabul Government

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The Afghan Taliban Monday greatly defended their government on fresh criticism by the United States that the only leadership in Kabul “was dominated by one ethnicity” and did not have inclusiveness.

This is invalid and we refused,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid to VOA when asking his reaction to critical comments made by US special envoys for Afghanistan, Tom West.

In our government, all requirements within the community framework and our values have been considered,” Mujahid insisted.

West Said on Saturday, while speaking at an international security conference in Germany, that his meeting with Taliban leaders respected women’s rights for education and work was productive, but he found them rigid” on questions about representative government.

There is no single woman in a leadership position in this government. Very well dominated by one ethnicity. I think there is a scarcity of professionals in most of the senior levels of this government which is very highly educated,” West said.

The Taliban is an ethnic Pashtun, a majority group in Afghanistan, and their interim cabinet consists mostly of senior group leaders, including those who are under US sanctions related to terrorism and the United Nations.

The Islamic group regained power from the government supported by the West in August and the US together with the NATO allies withdrew all troops from the war-hit by a war after 20 years.

Taliban quickly installed a temporary government, known as the Afghan Islamic Emirate, but the international community has not recognized it as a legitimate country ruler.

Before considering the legitimacy problem, the foreign government wants a hard-line group to regulate the country through a broad-based ruling system that represents all ethnic Afghanistan, respecting human rights, including women’s rights for education and work, and prohibits terrorists to use the country to cross the attacker .