Hannah Newman: No ‘technical engagement’ with Taliban; any cooperation leads to normalization of the group
Kabul Times News | International
Hannah Newman, a member of the European Parliament, has criticized recent contacts between EU officials and Taliban-appointed representatives, stressing that there is no such thing as ‘technical engagement’ with the Taliban.
Newman has warned that any cooperation with the Taliban, without making it conditional on the group’s accountability for human rights violations and international obligations, could lead to political normalization of the Taliban.
She has also called on the European Commission to clarify the objectives, framework and consequences of these contacts and explain how these interactions are consistent with the EU’s commitments to protect human rights, especially the rights of Afghan women and girls.
The MEP's remarks come as reports have been published in recent weeks about increased contacts and meetings between some European officials and Taliban representatives, and this issue has provoked mixed reactions among politicians and human rights activists.
Hannah Newman: No ‘technical engagement’ with Taliban; any cooperation leads to normalization of the group
