Spain ties normalising ties with Taliban to respect for human rights

Spain’s foreign ministry has said that continued human rights abuses and broad restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan have made it impossible to normalise diplomatic relations with the Taliban administration.

In a statement on Sunday, August 25, the ministry said that five years after the Taliban returned to power, Afghan women and girls still face systemic discrimination and the country’s people remain caught in a severe humanitarian crisis.

The Spanish foreign ministry stressed that the country remains committed to freedom, human rights and human dignity, and said that without respect for human dignity, normalising diplomatic relations with the Taliban administration will not be possible.

According to the ministry, Spain stands with the people of Afghanistan, especially Afghan women and girls, and underscores the observance of their basic rights and freedoms.

Spain is among the European countries that, since the Taliban returned to power, has repeatedly voiced concern over the human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly the restrictions imposed on women and girls.