A group of Afghan women activists and protestors has urged former U.S. President Donald Trump to cancel the 2020 U.S.-Taliban peace agreement signed in Doha, calling it a catalyst for Afghanistan’s current humanitarian and political crises.
In an open letter, the women criticized the deal for failing to deliver peace and stability, instead describing its consequences as “catastrophic” both domestically and internationally.
“After this agreement and the Taliban’s return to power, they began suppressing and torturing women and girls, along with other policies such as oppressing minorities, committing war crimes, forced displacements, targeted assassinations, the growth, production, and trafficking of narcotics, and undermining media freedom and civil institutions,” the letter stated.
The activists argued that the agreement, which facilitated the U.S. withdrawal and the Taliban’s subsequent takeover, has worsened Afghanistan’s migration crisis, strengthened international terrorism, and destabilized the region. They also highlighted its role in creating “a dangerous governance model” while fueling organized crime.
The U.S.-Taliban deal, signed on February 29, 2020, was a landmark agreement that paved the way for the withdrawal of American forces after two decades of war. However, critics, including the women behind the letter, contend it directly led to the collapse of Afghanistan’s former government and the erosion of women’s rights under Taliban rule.
The activists appealed directly to Trump, saying, “Your decision to support the people of Afghanistan, especially women and girls under the oppression of the Taliban, can change the fate of this country.”
Since regaining power, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on women and girls, barring them from education, employment, and many basic freedoms, including movement and speech.
The Doha agreement has also faced criticism from U.S. lawmakers across party lines, with some arguing it undermined Afghanistan’s stability and emboldened the Taliban.
The letter underscores the enduring global debate over the legacy of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and its impact on human rights and security.
