Karen Decker, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires for Afghanistan, during a briefing on Thursday said that one of her key priorities is to talk with the Taliban and hold them accountable for the restrictions they have imposed, particularly on women and the press.
Speaking to reporters, Decker outlined several critical issues for U.S. policy on Afghanistan, including ensuring that the country does not become a hub for terrorism, securing the release of American detainees held by the Taliban, and continuing dialogues aimed at pressuring the Taliban to respect human rights. She emphasized the importance of speaking out against the Taliban’s growing restrictions.
However, she stressed that ultimately, “it is the Afghan people who must decide their own fate.”
٬My top priorities are going to remain the same because, again, our policies are unchanged. It will be to ensure that Afghanistan is not a place of renewed conflict and is not a safe haven for terrorists, and to talk to the Taliban to hold them accountable for their commitments under the Doha Agreement,” she said. “At the same time, we will advocate for the release of American citizens wrongfully detained and all American citizens in custody so that we have assurances about their welfare and whereabouts.”
She said that the third priority will be to continue the conversations bilaterally and multilaterally to advocate for the full human rights for all Afghan citizens, and that “continuing to raise our voices on behalf of Afghans silenced by the morality law or other restrictions that are in effect.”
“I feel a huge sense of responsibility to speak on behalf of Afghans until Afghans can speak for themselves. And I feel that down the road, the future for the country needs to be decided among Afghans. This has been longstanding U.S. policy, and that there should be places for Afghans to come together and talk about the future, and that those are the voices that are most important,” Decker added.
Afghanistan remains a US priority
Decker reaffirmed that Afghanistan continues to be a priority for the U.S., despite changes in diplomatic personnel. She clarified that the recent replacement of U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West does not signal a shift in U.S. policy towards the country.
During the briefing, held in Dubai, Decker explained that she was there to discuss continued aid to Afghanistan with international donors. “I met with our United Nations colleagues who have been in Afghanistan, and we recognize the need for continued humanitarian assistance,” she said.
Decker highlighted the U.S. efforts to transition from humanitarian aid to development assistance, aiming to ensure that aid reaches the Afghan people directly. “The goal is to move towards development aid, focusing on projects that benefit the people of Afghanistan,” she said.
She also noted that there is significant interest in Dubai in investing in Afghanistan, indicating potential economic engagement in the future.
Next Doha meeting and Moscow format talks
Decker also touched on the upcoming phase of the Doha talks, stating that the U.S. is awaiting coordination on the next steps for working groups focused on issues such as drug trafficking and the private sector. “We expect the United Nations to announce the coordination between these working groups,” she said, signaling the U.S.’s commitment to addressing these complex challenges in future discussions.
“So at the conclusion of Doha 3, there was agreement that the UN would stand up two working groups. One that was going to be focused on counter-narcotics and one that was going to be focused on the economy. And that the donor, the Afghanistan envoy community, together with the Taliban, the UN, and other Afghan experts would work together in those working groups on a range of activities,” Decker said.
She added: “I think the UN has been careful to consult with a wide range of stakeholders on what the terms of reference for the working groups would be. And we are, that process I think is just about concluded. And we look forward to the UN soon announcing that the working groups have been organized. And then it will be up to the UN working with the participants in the working groups on a range of activities. I think the next big tent Doha meeting will take place at a time when it can get reports on the work of the working groups.”
When asked about the Moscow Format talks, Decker confirmed that she would not be participating, calling the event a regional meeting. The Moscow Format talks, scheduled for Friday, will include Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is currently in Russia for the conference.
Calls for Taliban to end detentions
Decker also reiterated U.S. concerns over the Taliban’s recent detentions of journalists and activists. “We have consistently raised this in our conversations with the Taliban,” she said, adding that the U.S. has urged the Taliban to stop detaining journalists and allow them to work freely.
Her remarks highlight the U.S.’s ongoing efforts to maintain pressure on the Taliban, while also balancing humanitarian and development goals for the Afghan people.
