Taliban Faces Global Criticism For Sending Male-Only Delegation To Kabul

Afghanistan: Since seizing power in August, the Taliban have excluded women from their new caretaker government and put restrictions on work and education, drawing condemnation from the outside world.

Global powers and aid groups that have loudly demanded an inclusive Afghanistan under the Taliban are now facing criticism for sending all-male delegations to Kabul to meet the hardline Islamists.

Since seizing power in August, the Taliban have excluded women from their new caretaker government and put restrictions on work and education, drawing condemnation from the outside world.

But female representation has been little better among some governments and aid groups in their meetings in the capital with Afghanistan's new rulers, who are seeking international recognition.

"Senior women in your teams should be leading your interactions with the Taliban... Don't exclude women," said Shaharzad Akbar, the exiled head of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.