Negotiating With the Taliban

“Human rights advocates fear that political reconciliation with the Taliban could erase the fragile progress made in improving the situation of Afghan women over the past nine years.” Al Jazeera reports on what might be the unintended consequences of the Afghan government’s strategy to negotiate with the Taliban as a way of making peace in the country. “Officially, the Taliban say they are not interested in a peace deal with the government. But behind the scenes, insurgent leaders are said to have held meetings with government officials, sparking fears of a possible return to the brutal repression of women that came to define the Taliban’s time in power.”