US UN envoy: Normalization of Taliban relations depends on his actions

US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said on Friday that any steps towards normalizing relations with the Taliban government would depend on its actions, particularly regarding the treatment of women and girls.

She expressed on social media platform X that the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls are “deeply troubling”.

“The United States has been clear: any meaningful steps toward normalization will be based on the Taliban’s actions, including the treatment of women and girls,” she reiterated.

Earlier on Wednesday, Thomas-Greenfield noted that the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan continues to worsen under the Taliban regime.

She added: “We think more needs to be done to hold them accountable and push them to change,” as she spoke to reporters at the Washington-based Foreign Press Center for UN Reform.

The international community, including the United States, remains concerned about continued restrictions on women’s rights in Afghanistan, which have drawn global criticism.

Normalization of relations with Afghanistan is likely to remain stalled unless significant changes are made to the treatment of women and girls, highlighting the growing tension between the Taliban and the international community.

It remains to be seen whether the Taliban will address these concerns or continue their current policies.