Bill To Prevent Taliban from Accessing US Financial Aid Passes In House of Representatives

Bennett stated that the International Criminal Court is investigating these issues, which could lead to the prosecution of responsible individuals.

During a panel discussion at a Norwegian think tank, Bennett praised the "peaceful and courageous" protests by women against the Taliban's gender policies, noting that such bravery is rarely seen worldwide.

He also mentioned that while street protests have become extremely difficult due to the Taliban's harsh crackdown, protests in private spaces and on social media continue.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan highlighted that the human rights situation in the country is deteriorating, with gender-based violence against women on the rise. Bennett noted that the Taliban have increased the enforcement of Hudud and Qisas punishments in public.

According to Bennett, the Taliban are rigorously enforcing dress code laws, primarily targeting women and girls.

In a video published by the Civita think tank on Tuesday, Bennett added that Afghanistan is currently the only country in the world where girls are banned from education beyond the sixth grade and university.

He also pointed out that the prohibition of women's employment makes Afghanistan the only country where women are not allowed to work.

The UN Special Rapporteur emphasised that the Taliban's directive for female UN staff in Afghanistan to stay home and not work was not only shocking, but also violated the UN Charter. He said that the UN needed to confront the Taliban's directive.

Bennett noted that the prohibition of women's employment in other international organisations in Afghanistan is also being enforced, with limited exceptions.

Bennett's criticism of the Taliban's policies towards women comes as the third Doha meeting is set to be held without the presence of women. The UN Secretary-General's special representative confirmed that women would not be present on the first day of the Doha meeting.

This exclusion has sparked widespread criticism, with several critics calling for a boycott of the meeting.

According to the NRF, the first attack occurred in the Khair Khana area of Police District 15, while the second took place in Police District 9.

In a statement published on X social media platform, the NRF stated that at 8:25 PM on Tuesday, their forces attacked a Taliban checkpoint near the power junction in the Khair Khana area, resulting in the death of two Taliban members and the injury of another.

The Front also reported that in the second attack, which occurred simultaneously with the first, their forces targeted a vehicle carrying Taliban intelligence forces behind the customs office in the "Industrial Parks" area, killing four Taliban members and destroying their vehicle.

The NRF's claims regarding Taliban casualties in these attacks have not been independently verified.

Several Afghanistan International readers reported hearing a loud explosion in Kabul on Tuesday evening.

The court also stated that two other individuals in the same province have been punished for theft.

According to the court's statement, these individuals have been sentenced to 39 lashes and three years of imprisonment.

The Taliban claims that the punishment sentences were issued and executed by the court in Parwan.

Earlier, this group announced the punishment of a woman in Herat province for extramarital relations with 39 lashes.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, Taliban's Foreign Minister, stated that based on the orders of Hibatullah Akhundzada, the group’s leader, Mujahid will lead the Taliban delegation at the Doha meeting.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that a meeting was held in Kabul to discuss the Doha meeting, focusing on sanctions on the financial and banking system, challenges in the private sector, and combating drugs.

Previously, the UN representative for Afghanistan expressed hope that the Taliban's Foreign Minister would attend this meeting.

The Taliban have not provided details about the composition and other members of this delegation.

The Taliban's foreign ministry mentioned that on Tuesday, with the presence of Zabihullah Mujahid, Noor Ahmad Agha, Deputy Governor of the Taliban's Central Bank, Mullah Abdulhaq Hamkar, Deputy Interior Minister for Counter Narcotics, and advisors from the Ministry of Commerce discussed the Doha meeting.

These women have launched a campaign seeking a boycott of the Doha meeting due to the absence of women’s rights in the agenda and at the negotiation table.

The third Doha meeting is scheduled to be held in the coming days without the presence of women in the main negotiations.

The exclusion of women and democratic forces from the Doha meeting has sparked widespread criticism from women activists and civil society. Critics argue that excluding women from the Doha meeting is against the values outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and assert that any meeting about Afghanistan without women lacks legitimacy.

Some international organisations, including Human Rights Watch, have criticised the exclusion of women from the Doha negotiations, calling it shocking.

Additionally, several Afghan activists and politicians have called for a boycott of the third Doha meeting.

Previously, Rahmatullah Nabil, former head of Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security, urged Afghan women and civil activists to suspend relations with the United Nations.

While women have not been invited to the third Doha meeting, a delegation representing the Taliban government will attend.

The Taliban did not participate in the second Doha meeting, citing the UN's refusal to accept the group's conditions. One of the Taliban's conditions was that they should be the sole representative of Afghanistan in the negotiations.

Earlier, sources confirmed to Afghanistan International that the third Doha meeting will be held under the supervision of Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General. Previous meetings were led by Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General.