China’s Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, has expressed concerns about the Taliban’s policies regarding women’s rights in Afghanistan.
The Chinese Foreign Minister’s comments were made at fourth meeting of Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, after the Taliban’s recent ban on women working for the United Nations, sparking international outrage.
According The New Arab, Qin said that “China and other friendly neighbours of Afghanistan are concerned about the recent policies and measures taken by the Afghan side and their possible impact on the basic rights and interests of Afghan women.”
| Chinese company offers $10 billion to the Taliban for access to lithium deposits
| Afghanistan’s neighbours call on the Taliban to form an inclusive government
The Chinese chief diplomat further added that the issue of women’s rights is not the only problem facing Afghanistan, saying that “it is not the whole issue of Afghanistan, nor is it the core or root cause of Afghanistan’s problems.”
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban has imposed severe restrictions on women’s rights to work and education. And despite international pleas and condemnations, the group has refused to change course.
