US Democrats Seek Stronger Pressure on Taliban Over Women’s Rights

DID Press: Two Democratic members of the US House of Representatives have pledged to use Congress’s legislative and oversight powers to increase pressure on the Taliban to lift restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan and strengthen protections for Afghan refugees.

Representatives Jason Crow and Greg Stanton expressed concern over the state of women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan, saying they would pursue measures in the new congressional session to press the Taliban to honour its commitments regarding women’s access to education and employment.

They also called for the restoration of bipartisan support for Afghans who worked alongside US forces and for measures to facilitate permanent residency for Afghan refugees.

The remarks come amid continued US restrictions on economic engagement with the Taliban administration. Taliban officials, meanwhile, have called for the reopening of the US Embassy in Kabul and expanded economic cooperation, including collaboration on counter-narcotics efforts.

Washington’s approach to Afghanistan comes as thousands of Afghan refugees in the United States face uncertainty over their immigration status under the administration’s restrictive immigration policies.

The issue highlights the challenges facing US policy towards Afghanistan, where calls for protecting human rights and Afghan refugees coexist with domestic political and immigration priorities. Meanwhile, the Taliban’s restrictions on women continue to draw international criticism and calls for greater pressure.