When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, they promised women equal rights but more than a year later, the Taliban are escalating restrictions against women, stripping them off their basic rights and compelling them to lead a life like a second-class citizens.&nbsp;

In the latest diktat, the Taliban banned women from entering gyms and public parks, further squeezing women from public spaces.&nbsp;

Earlier the regime ruled that women should cover their faces in public spaces and instructed them to get out of their homes only in cases of necessity. Women are barred from most jobs outside the home. According to one of the restrictions imposed, only women whose jobs could not be done by men were allowed to come to work. According to a similar announcement, the only job that women could do for the Taliban regime was to clean female bathrooms in public buildings.&nbsp;

The regime has also abolished the ministry for women’s affairs and has ultimately removed women from any kind of political participation.&nbsp;

And that’s not all, women are banned from travelling long distances without a male relative and in cases where women are not accompanied by a close male relative, they are then denied access to essential services.&nbsp;

Women in Afghanistan are living under a constant threat of violence, deprived of basic rights, these Afghan women and girls are relentlessly carrying on with their lives.&nbsp;

Various women activists in Afghanistan say that the Taliban’s newly intensified attacks and threats against women are partly in response to Afghan women’s sustained demands for equal rights.&nbsp;

The Taliban were previously forcing these restrictions on women through the morality police in the country but now countless Taliban men have taken the role of enforcers dictating terms to women in the country.&nbsp;

Taliban abuses and restrictions reported by women in recent weeks-

<ol>
	<li>Female students who earned high school diplomas before the Taliban took over have been prohibited from registering for further studies.</li>
	<li>A woman in Kabul reported that the Taliban members had entered the girls’ elementary schools to enforce the regime’s month-old order of covering the full face except for the eyes. During these recent raids, the Taliban enforcers beat the violators with electrical cable sticks. In one such case, they even harassed a five-year-old girl who did not cover her face.</li>
	<li>In some cases, the Taliban have even ordered principals of schools to examine the bodies of 10-11-year-old girls checking for signs of puberty and further expel girls from school who appear to be older.</li>
</ol>

For all the women in Afghanistan, life has taken a 180-degree turn. Around 14 million Afghan women and girls have lost their right to work, to go to school.

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When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, they promised women equal rights but more than a year later, the Taliban are escalating restrictions against women, stripping them off their basic rights and compelling them to lead a life like a second-class citizens.

When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, they promised women equal rights but more than a year later, the Taliban are escalating restrictions against women, stripping them off their basic rights and compelling them to lead a life like a second-class citizens. In the latest diktat, the Taliban banned women from entering gyms and public parks, further squeezing women from public spaces. Earlier the regime ruled that women should cover their faces in public spaces and instructed them to get out of their homes only in cases of necessity. Women are barred from most jobs outside the home. According to one of the restrictions imposed, only women whose jobs could not be done by men were allowed to come to work. According to a similar announcement, the only job that women could do for the Taliban regime was to clean female bathrooms in public buildings. The regime has also abolished the ministry for women’s affairs and has ultimately removed women from any kind of political participation. And that’s not all, women are banned from travelling long distances without a male relative and in cases where women are not accompanied by a close male relative, they are then denied access to essential services. Women in Afghanistan are living under a constant threat of violence, deprived of basic rights, these Afghan women and girls are relentlessly carrying on with their lives. Various women activists in Afghanistan say that the Taliban’s newly intensified attacks and threats against women are partly in response to Afghan women’s sustained demands for equal rights. The Taliban were previously forcing these restrictions on women through the morality police in the country but now countless Taliban men have taken the role of enforcers dictating terms to women in the country. Taliban abuses and restrictions reported by women in recent weeks- Female students who earned high school diplomas before the Taliban took over have been prohibited from registering for further studies. A woman in Kabul reported that the Taliban members had entered the girls’ elementary schools to enforce the regime’s month-old order of covering the full face except for the eyes. During these recent raids, the Taliban enforcers beat the violators with electrical cable sticks. In one such case, they even harassed a five-year-old girl who did not cover her face. In some cases, the Taliban have even ordered principals of schools to examine the bodies of 10-11-year-old girls checking for signs of puberty and further expel girls from school who appear to be older. For all the women in Afghanistan, life has taken a 180-degree turn. Around 14 million Afghan women and girls have lost their right to work, to go to school. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Life under the 'new Taliban'

The World Bank has suspended four projects totaling $600 million in Afghanistan, the BBC reported on Wednesday, due to the prohibition on girls returning to secondary schools.

According to Pajhwok News, the World Bank stated the projects were being developed for implementation by UN agencies to help agriculture, education, health, and livelihoods.

Only until the World Bank and foreign partners have a greater knowledge of the situation and confidence that the schemes' goals can be met will the four projects be offered to ARTF donors for approval. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-afghan-women-losing-fundamental-rights-rapidly-under-taliban-regime-431279">Pictures | In pics: Afghan women losing fundamental rights rapidly under Taliban regime</a>

Last week, US officials called off negotiations with the Taliban in Doha due to the Taliban's decision to keep girls out of secondary school.

The World Bank's executive board approved a plan to deploy over $1 billion from the ARTF fund to fund critical education, agricultural, health, and family programmes on March 1. 
 
Watch | US and allies slam Taliban ban on girls' education

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According to the BBC, the projects placed a strong emphasis on ensuring that girls and women participated in and benefited from the assistance.

The new Afghan rulers reversed their decision to open secondary schools for girls, much to the chagrin of the international community.

Officials from ten nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement on Friday condemning the Taliban's conduct as "very alarming."&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The World Bank has suspended four projects totaling $600 million in Afghanistan, the BBC reported on Wednesday, due to the prohibition on girls returning to secondary schools.

The World Bank has suspended four projects totaling $600 million in Afghanistan, the BBC reported on Wednesday, due to the prohibition on girls returning to secondary schools. According to Pajhwok News, the World Bank stated the projects were being developed for implementation by UN agencies to help agriculture, education, health, and livelihoods. Only until the World Bank and foreign partners have a greater knowledge of the situation and confidence that the schemes' goals can be met will the four projects be offered to ARTF donors for approval. Pictures | In pics: Afghan women losing fundamental rights rapidly under Taliban regime Last week, US officials called off negotiations with the Taliban in Doha due to the Taliban's decision to keep girls out of secondary school. The World Bank's executive board approved a plan to deploy over $1 billion from the ARTF fund to fund critical education, agricultural, health, and family programmes on March 1. Watch | US and allies slam Taliban ban on girls' education According to the BBC, the projects placed a strong emphasis on ensuring that girls and women participated in and benefited from the assistance. The new Afghan rulers reversed their decision to open secondary schools for girls, much to the chagrin of the international community. Officials from ten nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement on Friday condemning the Taliban's conduct as "very alarming." (With inputs from agencies)

World Bank suspends $600 million projects after Taliban ban girls from schools

With the US and western nations pushing the Taliban to honour women's rights, the official Twitter account of Afghanistan's government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has now shared a decree on women's rights.

In the months since the US withdrawal, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has been struggling to battle poverty, a “looming humanitarian crisis”, facing chronic poverty and drought.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistans-pm-urges-charities-to-keep-offering-aid-as-nation-battles-poverty-432485">Afghanistan's PM urges charities to keep offering aid as nation battles poverty</a>

Afghanistan and its new rulers have been asking international agencies for assistance in the past few months, and this decree may very well be an effort to appease foreign powers. This document, titled "Special Decree issued by Amir al-Momenin on Women's Rights", talks about the different rights that Afghan women will now have.

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Special Decree Issued by Amir al-Momenin on Women's Rights <a href="https://t.co/OEZYqiCE7R">https://t.co/OEZYqiCE7R</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y4xdq0gIQa">pic.twitter.com/Y4xdq0gIQa</a>
— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) <a href="https://twitter.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/1466663907750256642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2021</a></blockquote>
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One of the rights mentioned is marriage or Nekah (Nikah) rights. According to the decree, a woman's consent is necessary for marriage and coercion can't be used to force a woman into marriage.&nbsp;

It is also stated that widows have the right to choose and determine their future after the 'Sharaie Adat' period (four months and ten nights after husband's death or pregnancy) and also the right to marry.&nbsp;

The document then goes on to establish that women are not property "but a noble and free human being; no one can give her to anyone in exchange for peace deal and or to end animosity".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-ban-on-women-can-cost-economy-usd-1-billion-433652">Taliban ban on women can cost economy USD 1 billion</a>

A woman's property, heritage rights, and a husband's monetary obligations towards his wife/wives are also described in the document. It is mentioned that if a polygynous marriage occurs, the husband must maintain fairness among all of his wives according to Sharia law.

Furthermore, instructions have been given for the implementation of this decree to the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Information and Culture, the Supreme Court, and Governors, district governors.&nbsp;

However, there is no mechanism in the document for handling grievances if these rights aren't recognized. It should also be noted that this remains a mere decree and isn't actually a law that can be enforced.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;WION Wideangle: Afghan Women: what's next?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-wideangle-afghan-women-whats-next-397164/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Despite the Taliban's promise that it would be easier on women this time around, a tirade of diktats passed by the group proved anything but. It restricts what women can wear, forces them to cover from head to foot, prevents them from leaving their homes without a male companion, stops them from working and limits their education.

Whether this newly issued "special decree" will have the desired effect of providing women with fundamental rights or if 'fairer sex' will continue to be oppressed remains to be seen.&nbsp;

With the US and western nations pushing the Taliban to honour women's rights, the official Twitter account of Afghanistan's government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has now shared a decree on women's rights.

With the US and western nations pushing the Taliban to honour women's rights, the official Twitter account of Afghanistan's government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has now shared a decree on women's rights. In the months since the US withdrawal, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has been struggling to battle poverty, a “looming humanitarian crisis”, facing chronic poverty and drought. Also read | Afghanistan's PM urges charities to keep offering aid as nation battles poverty Afghanistan and its new rulers have been asking international agencies for assistance in the past few months, and this decree may very well be an effort to appease foreign powers. This document, titled "Special Decree issued by Amir al-Momenin on Women's Rights", talks about the different rights that Afghan women will now have. Special Decree Issued by Amir al-Momenin on Women's Rights https://t.co/OEZYqiCE7R pic.twitter.com/Y4xdq0gIQa — Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) December 3, 2021 × One of the rights mentioned is marriage or Nekah (Nikah) rights. According to the decree, a woman's consent is necessary for marriage and coercion can't be used to force a woman into marriage. It is also stated that widows have the right to choose and determine their future after the 'Sharaie Adat' period (four months and ten nights after husband's death or pregnancy) and also the right to marry. The document then goes on to establish that women are not property "but a noble and free human being; no one can give her to anyone in exchange for peace deal and or to end animosity". Also read | Taliban ban on women can cost economy USD 1 billion A woman's property, heritage rights, and a husband's monetary obligations towards his wife/wives are also described in the document. It is mentioned that if a polygynous marriage occurs, the husband must maintain fairness among all of his wives according to Sharia law. Furthermore, instructions have been given for the implementation of this decree to the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Information and Culture, the Supreme Court, and Governors, district governors. However, there is no mechanism in the document for handling grievances if these rights aren't recognized. It should also be noted that this remains a mere decree and isn't actually a law that can be enforced. Watch | WION Wideangle: Afghan Women: what's next? Despite the Taliban's promise that it would be easier on women this time around, a tirade of diktats passed by the group proved anything but. It restricts what women can wear, forces them to cover from head to foot, prevents them from leaving their homes without a male companion, stops them from working and limits their education. Whether this newly issued "special decree" will have the desired effect of providing women with fundamental rights or if 'fairer sex' will continue to be oppressed remains to be seen.

Women are 'noble and free human beings': Taliban issues decree on women rights

On September 8, the Taliban announced the formation of an interim government, declaring Afghanistan as the Islamic Emirate.

Two things stood out in the selection of key figures heading the government.

One, the new cabinet consisted of Taliban members in which 14 of them were on UN Security Council’s terrorism blacklist, including acting Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund and his both deputies.

Second, the conspicuous absence of a women minister and the dropping of the post for Ministry of Women under the new regime.

According to January 2021 data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), an international organization of Geneva-based international organization of national parliaments, women had occupied only 6.5 per cent of ministerial positions in Afghanistan before the Taliban seized power.

Watch

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Around &nbsp;27% of the Afghan parliament was comprised of women, ranking it in line with the United States, where women make up 26.8 per cent of all members of Congress, according to the IPU.

Afghanistan’s share of women legislative members had hovered around 27 per cent since 2005, when the first session of the elected body sat after three decades. Under the 2004 Constitution, at least 68 of the 250 total seats of parliament's lower house are reserved for women, with two seats reserved for women for each of the country’s 34 provinces.

Now, the country joins the ranks of a dozen other countries where there are no women serving in high-ranking positions in government.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/aid-workers-staying-in-taliban-ruled-afghanistan-tread-a-tricky-path-411705">Aid workers staying in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan tread a tricky path</a>

They are Azerbaijan, Armenia, Brunei, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam and Yemen, the IPU data suggests.

According to the IPU and UN Women, the absence of women in Afghanistan's government bucks the global trend. Most countries have women in senior government positions, and the number of nations with women as heads of state or in government is at an all-time high.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/watch-taliban-education-minister-says-phd-and-masters-degrees-worthless-mullahs-greatest-without-them-411612">Taliban Education Minister says PhD and Master's degrees worthless, mullahs greatest without them</a>

There are 22 countries that have women as the head of state or government.

Europe is home to the majority of those countries led by women, including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Germany, Iceland and Norway.

Despite repeated assurances from the Taliban regime that they would respect the rights of the women, and that they would enjoy greater freedom under the new regime, a look at the cabinet members and some their recent controversial statements falls in contradiction to their promises.

Taliban spokesperson Sayed Zekrullah Hashimi, in an interview to Tolo News, had stated, "A woman can't be a minister, it is like you put something on her neck that she can’t carry.”

He added that it is not necessary for a woman to be in the cabinet, adding that women "should give birth".

"Women protesters can't represent all women in Afghanistan," he added.

Hashimi was responding to a series of protest organised by the women in Kabul seeking greater political rights in the government.

The Afghan women were then driven away by the Taliban who used whips and sticks against the protesters in the crackdown on dissent.

Videos and pictures&nbsp;showed the women chanting, "Long live the women of Afghanistan". Some held placards that read: "No government can deny the presence of women" and "I will sing freedom over and over."

The Taliban, according to witnesses, also beat up journalists covering the demonstration, the report said.

(With inputs from agencies)

On September 8, the Taliban announced the formation of an interim government, declaring Afghanistan as the Islamic Emirate. Two things stood out in the selection of key figures heading the government.

On September 8, the Taliban announced the formation of an interim government, declaring Afghanistan as the Islamic Emirate. Two things stood out in the selection of key figures heading the government. One, the new cabinet consisted of Taliban members in which 14 of them were on UN Security Council’s terrorism blacklist, including acting Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund and his both deputies. Second, the conspicuous absence of a women minister and the dropping of the post for Ministry of Women under the new regime. According to January 2021 data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), an international organization of Geneva-based international organization of national parliaments, women had occupied only 6.5 per cent of ministerial positions in Afghanistan before the Taliban seized power. Watch Around 27% of the Afghan parliament was comprised of women, ranking it in line with the United States, where women make up 26.8 per cent of all members of Congress, according to the IPU. Afghanistan’s share of women legislative members had hovered around 27 per cent since 2005, when the first session of the elected body sat after three decades. Under the 2004 Constitution, at least 68 of the 250 total seats of parliament's lower house are reserved for women, with two seats reserved for women for each of the country’s 34 provinces. Now, the country joins the ranks of a dozen other countries where there are no women serving in high-ranking positions in government. Also read | Aid workers staying in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan tread a tricky path They are Azerbaijan, Armenia, Brunei, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam and Yemen, the IPU data suggests. According to the IPU and UN Women, the absence of women in Afghanistan's government bucks the global trend. Most countries have women in senior government positions, and the number of nations with women as heads of state or in government is at an all-time high. Watch | Taliban Education Minister says PhD and Master's degrees worthless, mullahs greatest without them There are 22 countries that have women as the head of state or government. Europe is home to the majority of those countries led by women, including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Germany, Iceland and Norway. Despite repeated assurances from the Taliban regime that they would respect the rights of the women, and that they would enjoy greater freedom under the new regime, a look at the cabinet members and some their recent controversial statements falls in contradiction to their promises. Taliban spokesperson Sayed Zekrullah Hashimi, in an interview to Tolo News, had stated, "A woman can't be a minister, it is like you put something on her neck that she can’t carry.” He added that it is not necessary for a woman to be in the cabinet, adding that women "should give birth". "Women protesters can't represent all women in Afghanistan," he added. Hashimi was responding to a series of protest organised by the women in Kabul seeking greater political rights in the government. The Afghan women were then driven away by the Taliban who used whips and sticks against the protesters in the crackdown on dissent. Videos and pictures showed the women chanting, "Long live the women of Afghanistan". Some held placards that read: "No government can deny the presence of women" and "I will sing freedom over and over." The Taliban, according to witnesses, also beat up journalists covering the demonstration, the report said. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan among few countries with no women in top government positions: Report

The prisoner swap in Afghanistan is completed. The Taliban and the Afghan government are now ready to talk peace. But women's rights hold little value for the Taliban. A hardline group who banned girls from going to school

This group whipped women accused of adultery or even the ones seen without a burqa.

Fawzia Koofi is a high-profile women's rights campaigner. Just when the Taliban and the Afghan government announced the peace talks. She survived a second assassination attempt. Koofi has endured the oppressive Taliban rule once. Now she's set to face them.

She is one of the five Afghan women set to face the hardliners in peace talks. Fatima Gailani and Habiba Sarabi are the other two.

Fatima Gailani said: "Every woman in Afghanistan has a fear not just because of this conversation, we always have a fear that whenever there are changes in Afghanistan, whenever there is a political change, always women are hurt."

16 men from the afghan team and an all-male Taliban side will outnumber these women, but for a patriarchal Afghanistan.

The humble female presence is a turning point. Even more for Sarabi---Afghanistan's first female provincial governor. She said: "I think it's a big success. Of course we are not very happy. We are not-, we think it's not enough. But it's a big success for us, because we will have our voice at the table."

So far, the Taliban have given no assurance about women's rights. But for Gailani, an Islamic-law expert. &nbsp;The first step for negotiations to move forward is 'ceasefire'. She said: "I think it's premature to talk about any kind of detail now. Whether it is about women or it is about men or in general, the values that we stand for. For now, i think with all these dilemma that we went through, with the release of prisoners with all these sort of going forward and backwards forwards and backwards for the long time, the most important achievement today is ceasefire."

The other two women on the negotiating team are Shahla Fareed, a lawyer, women's rights activist and university lecturer, and Sharifa Zurmati, a former broadcaster and local politician in Paktia.

The prisoner swap in Afghanistan is completed. The Taliban and the Afghan government are now ready to talk peace. But women's rights hold little value for the Taliban.

The prisoner swap in Afghanistan is completed. The Taliban and the Afghan government are now ready to talk peace. But women's rights hold little value for the Taliban. A hardline group who banned girls from going to school This group whipped women accused of adultery or even the ones seen without a burqa. Fawzia Koofi is a high-profile women's rights campaigner. Just when the Taliban and the Afghan government announced the peace talks. She survived a second assassination attempt. Koofi has endured the oppressive Taliban rule once. Now she's set to face them. She is one of the five Afghan women set to face the hardliners in peace talks. Fatima Gailani and Habiba Sarabi are the other two. Fatima Gailani said: "Every woman in Afghanistan has a fear not just because of this conversation, we always have a fear that whenever there are changes in Afghanistan, whenever there is a political change, always women are hurt." 16 men from the afghan team and an all-male Taliban side will outnumber these women, but for a patriarchal Afghanistan. The humble female presence is a turning point. Even more for Sarabi---Afghanistan's first female provincial governor. She said: "I think it's a big success. Of course we are not very happy. We are not-, we think it's not enough. But it's a big success for us, because we will have our voice at the table." So far, the Taliban have given no assurance about women's rights. But for Gailani, an Islamic-law expert. The first step for negotiations to move forward is 'ceasefire'. She said: "I think it's premature to talk about any kind of detail now. Whether it is about women or it is about men or in general, the values that we stand for. For now, i think with all these dilemma that we went through, with the release of prisoners with all these sort of going forward and backwards forwards and backwards for the long time, the most important achievement today is ceasefire." The other two women on the negotiating team are Shahla Fareed, a lawyer, women's rights activist and university lecturer, and Sharifa Zurmati, a former broadcaster and local politician in Paktia.

Women's rights a key issue during peace talks with Taliban

Khalid Noor, 25, is the youngest member of the Afghan Negotiating team that will sit with the Taliban in the near future to draw out the peace plan for Afghanistan.

Speaking to our Principal Diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal from Kabul, Khalid said, Taliban knows Afghanistan has changed but "We have to see if they really mean that during negotiations".

He said, his "vision for his country is peaceful, independent and democratic Afghanistan". He also called India's role in the Afghan peace process a crucial one.

Khalid's father Atta Muhammad Noor, a powerful Afghan politician had in 2016 took up the gun himself to protect the Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif during a terror attack.

WION: Afghanistan is an old nation, with a young population. We see more young people in public policy. What is your vision for Afghanistan?

Khalid Noor: Afghanistan has been at war for more than 4 decades. My people have been suffering for a generation. However, we are proud of our resilience. One-fourth of my generation, one-fourth of the country's population have been born during the war. This has made us strong and committed to rebuilding Afghanistan.

Post 9/11 a new society and a new generation has emerged. A &nbsp;generation that is well equipped with the latest knowledge and technology and indeed, there are more young people in a senior position and decision-making process in the country. For the first time, in a long time, the country is to young people in terms of jobs. My vision for my country is peaceful, independent and democratic Afghanistan--where there is human rights, where there is justice, where there is social justice, freedom, where we have rights of minorities, women rights. These are the values I envision for my country.&nbsp;

WION: How do you see your countries ties with India? 
Khalid Noor: India is a very old friend of Afghanistan and a very good one. We have a common culture and a common history, that goes back to thousands of years. India's role in Afghanistan in the last 19 years has been very very important to us. They have played a good role and contributed to rebuilding Afghanistan in the last 19 years.

I can name places, the house of parliament, an iconic building in the capital city and the Salma dam which an infrastructure project. These are 2 simple and small contribution of India to Afghanistan. The most important part which I see, the scholarship which our young people receive from India. We have more than 65000 graduates in the last few years from India, most of whom received scholarships. Education is the greatest gift that one can give and India as a strategic and good partner of Afghanistan has helped in building the country. Our hearts are very close to each other.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
WION: When you sit with the Taliban, along with your team, what will be your focus?&nbsp;Do you&nbsp;think, Taliban will be back like it was in 1996?

Khalid Noor: Taliban is misunderstanding reality on the ground. We have a strong govt, strong security force, strong institutions, a strong army in the country. Even if the Taliban tries to come to Afghanistan by force, they will face the national army and people Afghanistan and it will unrealistic to say that the Taliban came to Afghanistan the way they came in 1996.

When I go and when my team goes to the negotiating table we have a huge responsibility of conveying the message of our people, the message of new Afghanistan and defending the republic, the constitution of Afghanistan, especially the second&nbsp;chapter of constitution which is very important for us, that include human rights, women rights, the rights of minorities, freedom of expression, freedom of media, all these values we hold.

These are the things we will be taking our selves to the Taliban and on the table, we are giving a chance to the Taliban to reintegrate into the society and to come back and join the other Afghan fellows and have a good and peaceful life in the country.

WION: What is&nbsp;India's role in the Afghan peace process? Do you think, India should talk to the Taliban?

Khalid Noor: India as the key actor in the region, and also as an important partner of Afghanistan plays a very crucial role. A stable Afghanistan means a stable region, keeping this in mind, any peace deal should ensure the safety of the region and our allies and no one in the region, none of our neighbours should have any concerns regarding the peace deal. About India, as they have supported Afghanistan, Afghan govt, we expect India to keep on supporting the people of Afghanistan, Republic of Afghanistan and also support Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan controlled peace process.&nbsp;

WION: &nbsp;As a member of the team, how has been your experiences in Moscow, Doha and Pakistan. Who do you think, are not for Afghanistan, a stable prosperous Afghanistan?

Khalid Noor: I have met the Taliban on several occasions. In Moscow, Doha and have attended conferences on peace in Afganistan, one in Pakistan. My experiences have been very good.

Meeting face to face with others helps us know the narratives, different narratives of this war. It is also important to build personal trust if you going for negotiations with Taliban, building trust is the most important so that both sides can trust each other and these dialogues have helped and other people know the Taliban better and also my personal experience, Taliban in Doha, we went there and showed Taliban the new face of Afghanistan and the new Afghanistan.

They were surprised. They said, we know Afghanistan has changed and we respect that. We have to see if they really meant that during negotiations.

Khalid Noor, 25, is the youngest member of the Afghan Negotiating team that will sit with the Taliban in the near future to draw out the peace plan for Afghanistan.

Khalid Noor, 25, is the youngest member of the Afghan Negotiating team that will sit with the Taliban in the near future to draw out the peace plan for Afghanistan. Speaking to our Principal Diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal from Kabul, Khalid said, Taliban knows Afghanistan has changed but "We have to see if they really mean that during negotiations". He said, his "vision for his country is peaceful, independent and democratic Afghanistan". He also called India's role in the Afghan peace process a crucial one. Khalid's father Atta Muhammad Noor, a powerful Afghan politician had in 2016 took up the gun himself to protect the Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif during a terror attack. WION: Afghanistan is an old nation, with a young population. We see more young people in public policy. What is your vision for Afghanistan? Khalid Noor: Afghanistan has been at war for more than 4 decades. My people have been suffering for a generation. However, we are proud of our resilience. One-fourth of my generation, one-fourth of the country's population have been born during the war. This has made us strong and committed to rebuilding Afghanistan. Post 9/11 a new society and a new generation has emerged. A generation that is well equipped with the latest knowledge and technology and indeed, there are more young people in a senior position and decision-making process in the country. For the first time, in a long time, the country is to young people in terms of jobs. My vision for my country is peaceful, independent and democratic Afghanistan--where there is human rights, where there is justice, where there is social justice, freedom, where we have rights of minorities, women rights. These are the values I envision for my country. WION: How do you see your countries ties with India? Khalid Noor: India is a very old friend of Afghanistan and a very good one. We have a common culture and a common history, that goes back to thousands of years. India's role in Afghanistan in the last 19 years has been very very important to us. They have played a good role and contributed to rebuilding Afghanistan in the last 19 years. I can name places, the house of parliament, an iconic building in the capital city and the Salma dam which an infrastructure project. These are 2 simple and small contribution of India to Afghanistan. The most important part which I see, the scholarship which our young people receive from India. We have more than 65000 graduates in the last few years from India, most of whom received scholarships. Education is the greatest gift that one can give and India as a strategic and good partner of Afghanistan has helped in building the country. Our hearts are very close to each other. WION: When you sit with the Taliban, along with your team, what will be your focus? Do you think, Taliban will be back like it was in 1996? Khalid Noor: Taliban is misunderstanding reality on the ground. We have a strong govt, strong security force, strong institutions, a strong army in the country. Even if the Taliban tries to come to Afghanistan by force, they will face the national army and people Afghanistan and it will unrealistic to say that the Taliban came to Afghanistan the way they came in 1996. When I go and when my team goes to the negotiating table we have a huge responsibility of conveying the message of our people, the message of new Afghanistan and defending the republic, the constitution of Afghanistan, especially the second chapter of constitution which is very important for us, that include human rights, women rights, the rights of minorities, freedom of expression, freedom of media, all these values we hold. These are the things we will be taking our selves to the Taliban and on the table, we are giving a chance to the Taliban to reintegrate into the society and to come back and join the other Afghan fellows and have a good and peaceful life in the country. WION: What is India's role in the Afghan peace process? Do you think, India should talk to the Taliban? Khalid Noor: India as the key actor in the region, and also as an important partner of Afghanistan plays a very crucial role. A stable Afghanistan means a stable region, keeping this in mind, any peace deal should ensure the safety of the region and our allies and no one in the region, none of our neighbours should have any concerns regarding the peace deal. About India, as they have supported Afghanistan, Afghan govt, we expect India to keep on supporting the people of Afghanistan, Republic of Afghanistan and also support Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan controlled peace process. WION: As a member of the team, how has been your experiences in Moscow, Doha and Pakistan. Who do you think, are not for Afghanistan, a stable prosperous Afghanistan? Khalid Noor: I have met the Taliban on several occasions. In Moscow, Doha and have attended conferences on peace in Afganistan, one in Pakistan. My experiences have been very good. Meeting face to face with others helps us know the narratives, different narratives of this war. It is also important to build personal trust if you going for negotiations with Taliban, building trust is the most important so that both sides can trust each other and these dialogues have helped and other people know the Taliban better and also my personal experience, Taliban in Doha, we went there and showed Taliban the new face of Afghanistan and the new Afghanistan. They were surprised. They said, we know Afghanistan has changed and we respect that. We have to see if they really meant that during negotiations.

Want peaceful, democratic Afghanistan with rights for women, minorities: Khalid Noor