At a press briefing on Tuesday, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed that the United States has not altered its designation of the Taliban as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” organization.
Miller emphasized that any move toward normalizing relations with the Taliban would require substantial improvements in their human rights record, particularly regarding the treatment of women and girls.
“We have not changed our designation of the Taliban as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization,” Miller stated. “any significant steps towards normalization of relations is contingent upon a profound shift in the Taliban’s human rights conduct. And there has been remarkable unity among the international community on that question.”
When asked whether the U.S. is pressing the Taliban further on human rights, Miller underscored that the rights of women and girls are central to U.S. engagement with the group.
“We continue to work with our allies and partners to press the Taliban to reverse their discriminatory edicts,” he said. “Steps toward normalization hinge on real improvements in their treatment of women and girls, including allowing them back into schools and lifting restrictions on women’s employment.”
In response to a question about U.S. objectives in Afghanistan, Miller stated that the primary concern remains preventing the country from serving as a base for terrorist attacks against the United States. “We remain vigilant against any terrorist threats directed at the United States and its allies,” he said, adding that the U.S. retains the capability to protect its interests in Afghanistan and beyond.
