RASC News Agency: The Purple Saturdays Movement has strongly criticized the international community’s passive approach toward Afghanistan, accusing global actors of enabling the Taliban’s egregious violations of human rights. In a statement released on Saturday, November 16, the movement condemned the policy of “overlooking crimes against humanity under the pretext of engagement with the Taliban” that has been pursued over the past three years. The movement asserts that such a strategy has not only deepened Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis but has also emboldened the Taliban to continue their systemic abuses, particularly targeting women. The statement declared:
“This engagement has emboldened the Taliban to escalate their systematic oppression, organized crimes, and an unprecedented transformation of Afghanistan into a grave threat to regional and global peace and security.” Without naming specific individuals or entities, the statement accused pro-Taliban lobbyists of orchestrating coordinated efforts to normalize and whitewash the Taliban’s image in a bid to secure their recognition on the global stage. The Purple Saturdays Movement directly questioned the international community, the United Nations, and these lobbyists:
“What guarantees exist that further engagement with the Taliban will not exacerbate Afghanistan’s already dire situation?” The movement emphasized the urgent need for a robust international strategy centered on isolating the Taliban and exerting meaningful pressure to curb their abuses. Last week, the movement issued a stark warning, asserting that if the international community particularly the new U.S. administration continues to ignore the Taliban’s rampant human rights violations, it may join the ranks of military resistance groups fighting for justice and freedom.
This statement highlights the mounting frustration among Afghanistani advocacy organizations regarding the perceived apathy and inaction of the international community in holding the Taliban accountable. The Purple Saturdays Movement calls for a decisive and principled response to prevent further deterioration of Afghanistan’s human rights and security landscape.
