Afghan politician Ahmad Massoud has accused the ruling Taliban authorities of turning Afghanistan into a sanctuary for militant organizations, warning that the country’s current instability is a direct result of their policies.
In a statement, Massoud said Afghanistan has become “a hell for its people and a heaven for terrorist groups.” He claimed that more than 20 militant organizations are currently operating inside the country.
According to him, the presence of armed groups is not limited to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which he said continues to maintain bases in Afghanistan, but includes numerous other organizations that pose a threat to regional security.
Afghan Women Protest Taliban Policies
Meanwhile, Afghan women’s groups staged protests in Kabul, criticizing Taliban policies and restrictions on women.
Members of the Afghan Women Freedom Lantern Movement and the Afghan Women Cry Movement took part in demonstrations calling for greater rights and freedoms.
Protesters from the Freedom Lantern Movement chanted slogans including “Bread, Work, Freedom” and “Our enemy is the Taliban,” accusing the authorities of deepening the country’s crisis through restrictive policies.
The group said Taliban measures have stripped Afghan women of their rights to education, employment and public protest.
The Afghan Women Cry Movement also criticized the exclusion of women from political, social and economic life, saying Afghan women face severe gender discrimination under Taliban rule.
