The Afghan diplomats in the US have been informed via a memo earlier that they would be stripped of their immunity….reports Asian Lite News
Without the backing of a recognized government or money to keep the lights on, Afghanistan’s embassy in Washington will be shutting down in the coming week.
The Afghan diplomats, appointed by the former government, are now left with one month to apply for residency or temporary humanitarian parole to remain in the US before being deported as they could be under threat by the Taliban-led government if they return home.
About 25 diplomats of the estimated 100 who worked at the Afghan Embassy in Washington have still not applied for the visas, The New York Times (NYT) reported on Friday citing two US State Department officials.
After Citibank froze the embassy’s bank accounts to avoid violating American sanctions against the Taliban, the Afghan diplomats were left with no money or savings as they were not paid since October. To survive in the US, they have been living on savings or forced to borrow money, NYT reported.
The Afghan diplomats in the US have been informed via a memo earlier that they would be stripped of their immunity.
Washington’s move comes less than six months after the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.
The Taliban, who seized power last August, is not recognized by the international community, including the US, and they have not fully gained control of diplomatic missions set up under the previous government.
‘Protect women rights if govt wants recognition’
US State Department’s special representative for Afghan women, Rina Amiri, has said that the Taliban must protect women’s rights if it wants recognition by the international community, local media reported.
The Taliban should respect the rights of women, girls, minorities, and all the people living in the country, Khaama Press quoted Amiri as saying during an interview with Voice of America.
The envoy added that Afghan women should not only work in the health and education sector but in all sectors of public life.
“Afghan women should be allowed to participate in all peaceful demonstrations. The women should have the freedom of expression, freedom of travel, and all those freedoms that Islam has given to women and Afghanistan are bound to,” the media outlet quoted her as saying.
Notably, the Taliban regime which took over Kabul in August last year has curtailed women’s rights and freedoms, with women largely excluded from the workforce due to the economic crisis and restrictions.
However, the Taliban has accused the previous Afghan government backed by the International Community of providing sham rights to women and depriving them of the real rights of women, according to the media outlet. (ANI)