Afghan women urge US president Trump to prosecute Zalmay Khalilzad

A group of protesting women has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to prosecute Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. representative for Afghanistan peace affairs.

In an open letter to Trump, the women accused Zalmay Khalilzad of betraying American values and turning the Taliban into a legitimate group. They said his actions led to the oppression Afghan women now face under Taliban rule.

The protesters issued a statement on Saturday, March 22, accusing Khalilzad of contributing to the resurgence of the Taliban and of compromising women’s rights in Afghanistan. They believe that the peace agreements he helped facilitate have had devastating effects on the female population in the country, restricting their access to essential rights and opportunities for development.

“He repeatedly claimed that the Taliban had changed and would honor their commitments — claims that have now been proven false,” the letter states. “Afghanistan has become a safe haven for terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda and ISIS, while women are subjected to killings, brutal laws and systemic repression.”

The letter, signed by over a dozen women’s organizations, including the Afghan Women’s Lantern Movement and the Afghan Women’s Justice Movement, calls for Zalmay Khalilzad to be held accountable in a court of law.

The groups emphasized that Afghan women, as direct victims of Khalilzad’s actions, are suffering the catastrophic consequences of his policies. They demand a fair and transparent legal process to address these issues.

They emphasize that his efforts led to a situation where millions of Afghan women and girls have been deprived of education and employment opportunities.

Khalilzad, who was instrumental in negotiating the Doha Agreement between the United States and the Taliban, is viewed by the protesters as having played a central role in facilitating the return of a regime that severely restricts women’s rights. The peace agreement, signed in 2020, was intended to end the conflict, but critics argue that it paved the way for the Taliban’s return, undermining women’s progress made over the last two decades.

This controversial call comes amid reports that Khalilzad has recently traveled to Afghanistan under Taliban rule as part of a U.S. delegation to negotiate the release of an American citizen. Despite the years of diplomatic work he has done, the women’s protests underscore their belief that his actions have indirectly harmed the future of millions of Afghanistan’s women.

As the protests continue to grow, there are increasing calls for accountability regarding the peace processes that led to the Taliban’s resurgence. These events highlight the stark contrast between the promises of peace and the harsh reality faced by Afghan women under Taliban rule. The growing dissatisfaction and outcry from women’s rights groups could influence future U.S. foreign policy decisions on Afghanistan.

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