Javier Puig, Spain’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, has said that half of Afghanistan’s population is living under gender-based discrimination, warning that increased engagement with the Taliban must not lead to the normalisation of the group.
Puig made the remarks at an event in Madrid marking the anniversary of the People’s Tribunal for Afghan Women. He called for human rights, particularly women’s rights, to remain a central consideration in any engagement with the Taliban.
According to Puig, nearly five years have passed since the Taliban returned to power, during which engagement between the group and several countries, as well as the European Union, has increased. He noted that, in the early days of Taliban rule, there was broad international consensus that the group should not be recognised because of the circumstances in which it seized power and its failure to honour agreements.
Puig said Russia broke that consensus in July 2025 by formally recognising the Taliban. Nevertheless, several countries continue to operate embassies in Kabul, while the European Union also maintains a presence in Afghanistan. He stressed, however, that such engagement does not amount to formal recognition of the Taliban.
He added that some countries have to maintain contact with the Taliban for practical reasons, including managing migration and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid. Such contacts, he argued, must be kept separate from efforts to normalise the group, and human rights and women’s rights must remain key issues in all discussions.
Puig also observed that the Taliban had learned from past experience and had adopted a more professional approach to diplomacy. He said engagement by regional and neighbouring countries was largely driven by their own security, political and economic interests.
Despite the difficulties involved in dealing with the Taliban, Spain’s special representative stressed that these challenges must not come at the expense of human rights and the rights of Afghan women. He said these issues should remain central to any engagement with the group.
Writer:Roya Stanikzai
