Senior figures from across the Afghan diaspora have gathered in London for a major conference to discuss how Afghanistan can overcome deadly Western sanctions and rebuild the country following years of brutal occupation.
The event titled “the role of girls education and rights to work in unlocking sustainable peace and development” brought together a wide variety of experts, scholars and elders who represented independent Afghan groups.
The event was organised by JIRGA, an Afghan diaspora group headed by independent Afghan individuals and NGOs.
Speaking to 5Pillars, event organiser Mr Habibullah Ghafari said: “We represent an Afghan international movement and we are trying to bring the international community’s attention to the situation in Afghanistan, the economic problems sanctions have caused, and find a solution through dialogue and conferences such as this one.”
The harmful impact of Western sanctions on the ordinary Afghan people was one of the main themes of the conference, as Mr Ghafari explained.
“After the occupation ended and the sanctions came into place, ordinary people began to suffer. Big companies cannot come and invest in Afghanistan because of the sanctions on banks. According to the World Food Programme, one in three Afghans are hungry, two million children are malnourished. According to the UN Development Programme, 97% of the population could fall below the poverty line. We could see this with our own eyes when we visit Afghanistan, the situation is getting worse.”
Three years of Islamic Emirate rule
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This month, the Islamic Emirate has celebrated the third anniversary of its return to power after the U.S.-led occupation finally came to an end.
The Western-backed Afghan regime which headed the nation from Kabul was notoriously corrupt and lacked local support.
It immediately collapse after the U.S. forces’ withdrawal, paving the way for a swift Taliban takeover of the country and the establishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Soon after, the Taliban declared a new government, which remains unrecognised to this day by any foreign state or international institution.
Western donors immediately cut off the development aid that had covered 75% of the previous government’s expenditures, plunging the newly declared Islamic Emirate (IEA) into economic quagmire.
But one of the more persistent complaints against IAE rule has been the government’s decision to restrict female education past the age of six.
The move caused an international backlash, with many in the Muslim world also criticising the measure.
Ibrahim Alam, who visited Afghanistan as part of a JIRGA Afghan diaspora delegation in 2023, explained to 5Pillars how his delegation attempted to lobby the government to change its stance on female education, which in turn they hope will aid foreign nations to begin working with the Emirate.
“We went to Afghanistan, met several high-ranking members and we discussed various issues with them including girls’ education. We advised them about sending the girls back to school and also allowing women to work. They received us well and listened to us. We intend to go back very soon and continue discussions.”
Despite this disagreement on female education, conference speakers stressed that the solution to Afghanistan’s issues is communication between “real and honest” Afghans and not sanctions or war.
Countering Western propaganda
Another key theme at the conference was that Afghanistan has actually benefitted in many areas from IEA rule, particularly in the areas of security, destruction of the opium drug trade and tackling rampant corruption.
“When we went to Afghanistan, I have experienced the former (Western-backed) regime and the current government (under the Taliban). Before we were forced to pay regular bribes just to pass checkpoints or get basic paperwork completed and you couldn’t travel to many areas due to conflict. But now the country is safer, corruption is rarer. The corruption before was widespread but now no one is demanding any money.”
Waheedullah, an Afghan participant at the conference, explained to 5Pillars how the Western sanctions strategy is futile and will only work to damage the lives of ordinary Afghans.
“It’s because the Western demands on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan are against the curriculum the IAE wish to implement. They have promised to implement Shari’ah and the people expect it.
“The government will only accept demands which are in accordance to their laws or close to their laws. As long as the West stands by their wrongful and spiteful demands, the IEA will stand by their current position and reject Western calls for reform.”
On August 22, the United Arab Emirates accepted the credentials of a IEA-appointed diplomat as the ambassador for Afghanistan making the Arab Gulf state the second country after China to accept a Taliban envoy at that level.
IEA diplomats have controlled Afghanistan’s embassy in Abu Dhabi and its consulate in Dubai since at least last year though apparently without formal acceptance as Afghan diplomats.
This latest development raises hopes that countries will begin to officially recognise the IEA and provide much needed avenues for trade and economic opportunities.
