KABUL — The Taliban’s top environmental official on Monday urged the international community not to link humanitarian aid to political issues, even as the Taliban continue to enforce sweeping restrictions, particularly on women’s participation in public life.
Speaking at a press conference in Kabul on Afghanistan’s deteriorating environmental conditions, Mutiul Haq Khales, head of the Taliban-run National Environmental Protection Agency, called for sustained international support. “The people of Afghanistan are part of the global human community. Their suffering is the world’s suffering, and their problems are the world’s problems,” he said.
Khales stressed that women in Afghanistan are disproportionately affected by climate change and environmental degradation and called on international organizations not to overlook this reality when compiling data and reports. “Women are bearing the brunt of the country’s environmental crisis,” he said.
His comments, delivered in both Pashto and Dari, come amid widespread condemnation of the Taliban’s policy banning women from working with domestic and international NGOs, as well as in most government institutions, including the public health sector. These measures have contributed to a sharp decline in foreign aid.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned that such restrictions have had a devastating impact on humanitarian operations. In a recent report, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) documented a rise in violence and interference with aid workers in April. According to the report, Taliban authorities were responsible for seven incidents that month, including the arrest of 29 humanitarian workers — 16 men and 13 women — as well as two additional cases involving threats and verbal harassment.
“These incidents have significantly constrained the ability of humanitarian staff to operate safely and effectively,” the report said.
OCHA also noted four separate incidents in April involving restrictions on the movement of aid agencies, personnel, or supplies. Most occurred at Taliban checkpoints and disproportionately impacted women’s participation in relief efforts.
Moreover, 18 percent of all arrests reported in April were gender-related, marking a 38 percent increase compared to the previous month — a trend that highlights the growing dangers facing women working in humanitarian operations, OCHA said.
In addition, the Taliban issued two new directives in April targeting aid agencies and reiterating previous demands for sensitive information, including lists of beneficiaries, a move aid organizations have warned could compromise the safety and privacy of those receiving assistance.
Despite Khales’s call for continued support, humanitarian agencies say that unless restrictions on women are lifted and operational independence is respected, the delivery of aid will remain severely hampered.
