KABUL, Afghanistan — With Donald J. Trump set to return to the White House on Jan. 20, some Afghan citizens are calling on the newly elected U.S. president to exert pressure on the Taliban to lift restrictions and support human rights in Afghanistan.
Since regaining control in 2021, the Taliban has imposed severe limitations on women’s rights and civil liberties, sparking widespread international condemnation.
Afghans have expressed hope that the Trump administration will advocate for an inclusive government in Afghanistan, where all ethnic groups and factions are represented. “We urge President Trump to help establish a government that represents all Afghans and lift the restrictions that prevent women from studying and working,” said one resident.
Others stressed the need for a firmer U.S. stance on women’s rights under the Taliban. “Until the Taliban respect women’s rights and human rights, they should not be engaged with diplomatically. Pressure should be used to bring about meaningful changes,” said another Afghan citizen.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, released a statement urging the incoming U.S. administration to adopt what it called “realistic steps” to improve relations with the group, which currently governs Afghanistan. While the Trump administration signed a peace agreement with the Taliban in Doha in 2020, Mr. Trump later criticized aspects of the U.S. withdrawal, suggesting it had not been executed in America’s best interest.
During his recent campaign, Mr. Trump did not articulate a detailed policy on Afghanistan, leaving uncertainty over his administration’s potential approach to the Taliban’s rule and human rights policies.
In addition to calling for women’s rights, Afghan citizens and activists are urging the U.S. to address Afghanistan’s mounting humanitarian crisis. The country faces severe economic challenges, and many hope that the new U.S. administration will work to alleviate suffering. Figures like Fawzia Koofi, a former Afghan parliamentarian, and Sami Sadat, a former commander in Afghanistan’s special forces, have publicly supported calls for the U.S. to advocate for an inclusive political process.
Meanwhile, a senior Taliban official commented on the U.S. political landscape in remarks that appeared to dismiss the likelihood of a woman leading America. Enamullah Samangani, head of the Taliban’s Information and Culture Department in Kandahar, suggested that recent electoral results indicate American voters are not prepared for female leadership, saying, “If votes from communities of color and recent immigrants were separated, fewer Americans might have supported a female candidate like Kamala Harris.”
As Afghanistan navigates a complex relationship with the U.S. under Taliban rule, Afghans are waiting to see how the Trump administration will address the Taliban’s policies, which continue to restrict human rights and freedoms.
