Taliban spokesperson challenged over their oppressive regime

Summary

An ITV News interviewer challenges a Taliban spokesperson over Afghanistan’s direction after five years of Taliban rule, focusing on economic hardship and restrictions on women and girls.

The spokesperson says Afghanistan has regained sovereignty, peace, and stability. He argues that the economy has recovered from a post-withdrawal slump, putting GDP at about $20 billion, up from around $13 billion, and exports at nearly $2 billion, up from roughly $700 million. He also cites infrastructure and irrigation projects and increased access to basic literacy. These are his claims; the interview does not independently verify the figures.

The interviewer points to malnutrition, families struggling to feed their children, and child deaths, arguing that the Taliban now bears responsibility for those conditions. The spokesperson disputes comparisons with the period before the Taliban’s return, says the country is on a positive trajectory, and attributes obstacles to sanctions and frozen Afghan assets. He calls for diplomacy rather than war and says other countries should respect Afghanistan’s sovereignty.

Education is the central point of contention. The spokesperson acknowledges that girls’ education beyond seventh grade—including secondary school and university—is suspended, but argues that women still have access to other forms of education, such as home-based study and madrasas. He describes the restrictions as a sovereign government decision and offers no assurance that they will be lifted. The interviewer challenges this defence, noting that many Afghan women want to continue their studies and that the restrictions limit their opportunities.

Asked about women who feel trapped, hopeless, or suicidal, the spokesperson rejects the premise that the restrictions are driving suicides. He claims Afghanistan has almost no suicides and links despair instead to a lack of economic prospects. He also compares suicidal thoughts in Afghanistan with rates in developed countries, which the interviewer challenges as irrelevant to the government’s responsibility.

The spokesperson concludes by advocating relations with all countries and cooperation centred on economic interests, while maintaining that Afghanistan’s domestic laws and priorities should be respected.

Presenters and Contributors

• ITV News interviewer: Unnamed in the subtitles
• Taliban spokesperson: Unnamed in the subtitles