WASHINGTON: State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller reaffirmed that Afghanistan remains a priority in U.S. foreign policy.
Addressing a press conference, Miller emphasized the country’s ongoing engagement despite the challenges faced in recent years.
“Of course it is, and we will continue to stay engaged on Afghanistan. It remains an enduring priority,” Miller stated when asked if Afghanistan continues to be a focus for U.S. policy.
He announced that U.S. efforts in Afghanistan will now be led by Karen Decker, Chief of Mission for the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan, along with Special Envoy Rina Amiri and Ambassador John Mark Pommersheim. Miller’s comments follow the conclusion of Thomas West’s tenure as U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, with Decker, Amiri, and Pommersheim taking on key roles in shaping U.S. policy toward the country.
Meanwhile, human rights activists and international organizations have voiced frustration over the U.S. response to the Taliban’s human rights violations since the group regained power in Afghanistan three years ago. Critics argue that the U.S. has not taken significant or concrete action against the Taliban’s widespread abuses, particularly regarding women’s rights.
In a related development, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, and Canada issued a joint statement during the 79th United Nations General Assembly, announcing their intention to file a complaint against the Taliban with the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The complaint focuses on violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The four nations warned that if the Taliban do not halt their violations of women’s rights within six months, they will pursue legal action at the ICJ in The Hague. However, the United States has not yet formally endorsed this initiative.
