Taliban Vows to Tackle Climate Change
'We hope not only to be recognized by regional countries but the entire world'
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After setting fire to Afghan women for their poor cooking skills and reportedly raping dead bodies, the Taliban has now promised it will play a key role in fighting climate change.
A Taliban spokesperson told Newsweek they now want to receive recognition from the international community as a legitimate governing body.
The group agreed on a deal with President Donald Trump, which would have seen American troops leave the country by May 1, 2021, in exchange for them cutting ties with international terrorists like al-Qaeda, along with stopping attacks on foreign forces.
But Democrat Joe Biden botched the deal by refusing to honor the agreement and announcing he would keep a military presence in the country.
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According to Afghanistan’s now-defunct State Ministry for Peace, the Taliban launched 22,000 attacks between April and July,
But recently, the Taliban's spokesperson insisted they are building an “inclusive” but sharia-compliant government.
They have also claimed they respect women’s rights, despite setting a woman on fire for her poor cooking skills and killing another for not wearing a burka.
Taliban’s Cultural Commission member, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, told Newsweek they are now looking to instill trust in their rule in the international community.
Balkhi said their ambition is to be welcomed by the world’s legitimate government and offered a proper platform.
“We hope not only to be recognized by regional countries but the entire world at large as the legitimate representative government of the people of Afghanistan,” Balkhi said.
“Who have gained their right of self-determination from a foreign occupation with the backing and support of an entire nation after a prolonged struggle and immense sacrifices despite all odds being stacked against our people.”
Balkhi said the Taliban now see a “unique opportunity” to join the world in combating climate change.
“We believe the world has a unique opportunity of rapprochement and coming together to tackle the challenges not only facing us but the entire humanity,” Balkhi said.
“And these challenges ranging from world security and climate change need the collective efforts of all.”
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Balkhi warned that the victory against climate change “cannot be achieved if we exclude or ignore an entire people who have been devastated by imposed wars for the past four decades.”
But the Taliban have not given clear specifics on what they intend to do regarding its foreign policy outside of aggressively seeking foreign investment to ensure their “stability."
The Taliban spokesperson also promised an “inclusive” government led by radical Islamist clerics in what seems to be an attempt to woo foreign investors.
The word “inclusive” seems to be used as an attempt to ensure that radical Islamist clerics have a seat at the table.
Now, several countries have already indicated their interest in recognizing the Taliban as the formal government of Afghanistan.
Those countries include:
- Russia
- Iran
- China
China’s state media have even supported recognition of the Taliban on the basis of them allegedly representing the will of the Afghan people.
The Chinese Global Times also pointed out the abysmal human rights record of the Taliban, most notably atrocities against women.
Global Times editor-in-chief Hu Xijin wrote:
“Some people in China now use human rights issues, such as women’s rights, as the primary standard to decide if they will like the new regime in Afghanistan."
