August 15 marks five years since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan. Five years ago, as US troops withdrew, the Taliban rapidly regained control of Kabul and have since enforced a series of harsh decrees against women and girls, leading the United Nations to label the country a 'graveyard of human rights'. Yet as this grim anniversary arrives, the international community's stance toward the Taliban is shifting — several nations are resuming or deepening diplomatic contacts with the sanctioned regime, sparking deep concern among human rights activists.
International Diplomatic 'Thaw': More Contacts, Missing Conditions
According to The Guardian (August 15), India, Qatar, China, Iran and several Central Asian nations have recently hosted Taliban officials or opened new communication channels. Russia formally recognized the Taliban government over a year ago and signed a military cooperation agreement last month. In June, the European Union held technical talks in Brussels with a Taliban delegation on repatriating Afghan asylum seekers — the first formal contact since 2021.
India went further, securing a sanctions waiver last year to allow Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to visit New Delhi. In June, India's UN representative argued that the sanctions regime should reflect the changing political realities in Afghanistan. China, citing concerns over Islamist militant activity near its southwestern border, has welcomed Taliban officials multiple times in recent years and hosted talks during the Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict earlier this year.
Activists warn these scattered bilateral contacts are undermining the 'consistency and coherence' of international demands for human rights improvements. Ferishta Abbasi, Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, said: 'The international community should send a unified, clear message to the Taliban: without substantive progress on women's rights and human rights, there will be no friends. But that's not happening.'
Five Years of Oppression: Women Systematically Stripped of Rights
Since taking power in 2021, the Taliban has issued dozens of decrees banning women from university and most public-sector jobs, prohibiting teenage girls from secondary education, enforcing strict dress codes, and restricting women from traveling or entering public places like parks and restaurants without a male guardian. In March, the UN declared Afghanistan a 'graveyard of human rights.'
More shockingly, in June, Taliban forces opened fire on demonstrators protesting for women's education rights, killing two people, including a young boy. UN monitors also report that forced child marriage has become a form of 'gender apartheid.' A 15-year-old girl was killed along with her mother by Taliban officials after she refused a forced marriage.
Key Numbers at a Glance
- 🚫 Girls banned from secondary education since 2021
- 🚫 Women banned from universities and most public jobs
- 📉 12 million girls under 18 forced into marriage globally each year (UNICEF)
- 🕊️ Two protesters killed by Taliban fire in June
Gordon Brown: A Global Fund for Afghan Girls
Against this backdrop, Gordon Brown, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education and former UK Prime Minister, published an opinion piece in The Guardian urging immediate action. He noted that despite brutal repression, Afghan girls still yearn to fulfill their educational potential. Brown proposed a plan: establish a global fund to support Afghan girls threatened with forced marriage, providing scholarships and, where necessary, the chance to continue their studies abroad.
Brown stressed that education is the most powerful protection against child marriage. According to UNICEF data, around 12 million girls under 18 are forced into marriage globally each year. In Afghanistan, girls are barred from secondary school, and women are banned from university, public-sector work, and even humanitarian organizations. Brown said: 'For five years, terrorists have consolidated their rule, while the international community has barely spoken out. Now is the time to truly support the girls risking their freedom and lives to pursue education.'
The UK government has already announced two refugee settlement pathways for students under its new immigration bill: one through sponsorship by recognized charities, and another through scholarships offered by universities and colleges. But Brown believes this is not enough, and he is willing to partner with any charity or educational institution wishing to help girls defend their human rights.
Taliban Internal Rigidity: Little Change Expected Soon
Analysts believe the Taliban is unlikely to change course anytime soon. Ramin Mansouri, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said: 'They will not make any major concessions; most Taliban members lack an international outlook.' Although there are internal disagreements over issues like the girls' education ban, conservatives still dominate. New laws have further declared religious minorities such as Shia Muslims as heretics and intensified punishments for dissent.
Meanwhile, the Taliban is pursuing a diplomatic offensive to break its isolation. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the regime 'seeks to build relations with all countries,' placing particular emphasis on economic ties with neighbors. Afghanistan's rich mineral resources are also attracting foreign investment, including from China.
However, Human Rights Watch's Ferishta Abbasi noted: 'The Taliban views any form of contact as a diplomatic victory and uses it to tell domestic supporters they have been accepted by the international community.' She urges the international community to set clear conditions when engaging, rather than sacrificing human rights principles simply to address migration or security crises.