Takashi Okada, the Japanese ambassador in Kabul, referring to women in Afghanistan said that the Islamic Emirate needs the support of women if they want to stabilize the country and bring about prosperity.
“Women are losing more and more opportunities to have social lives outside their homes, the Taliban need the support of women who account for half of the population if they want to stabilize the country and bring about prosperity,” he said.
In an interview with Japanese media, Okada noted that some of the officials of the current Afghan government want to introduce a more relaxed policy on women.
“I understand that some in the Taliban want to introduce a more relaxed policy on women, they see this as improving relations with the international community and gaining their support, so I think there is a … possibility that the Taliban will change,” Japanese ambassador in Kabul further stated.
Meanwhile, some women’s rights activists once more asked the Islamic Emirate to ensure women’s rights in the country.
“I hope that women will be allowed to work in political, social, and other fields. I ask the international community to support Afghan women and encourage the authorities of the Islamic Emirate to allow women to work and educate girls,” said Dewa Patang, a women’s rights activist.
The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that all Afghans’ rights are upheld in the country and that attempts are being made to provide women employment and educational opportunities.
However, Mujahid noted that girls’ education and women’s work is the internal issue of the country.
“The Islamic Emirate is committed to all the rights of Afghans granted to them by the Islamic Sharia. Efforts are being made to address the problems of girls’ education and women’s employment, and we ask other nations, including Japan, not to worry about Afghanistan’s internal issues,” the spokesman added.
This comes as the Islamic Emirate will enter its second year of rule on Tuesday, August 15. During that period, women and girls have faced restrictions on their ability to access education, employment, and other opportunities.
