Taliban Once again, clarifying his tough stance, has threatened the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands to be shared with bomb blasts. The threat has been made when the court has issued an arrest warrant against the Taliban supreme leader Hibetullah Akhundzada and his judicial head Abdul Hakim Haqqani. Taliban supporters in their strong response publicly broadcast these threats against the ICC, indicating that they would not accept these warrants at any cost. This development has occurred when rumors of changes on women’s rights and other social issues were flying within the Taliban.
An old face came out again
Although some reports were claiming that the Taliban is showing softening in women’s rights and other matters, but now her real face has come out once again. This new threat of the Taliban has made it clear that it stands on its old policies. Since coming to power in 2021, the Taliban imposed strict restrictions on women’s rights and denied them of their basic rights. Now, the Taliban has openly threatened to consider the decision at any cost and the world will have to bear the brunt of it when the International Court of International Court issued an arrest warrant.
Why did ICC release warrant?
Senior government lawyer of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, had announced that he wanted to issue an arrest warrant against two prominent Taliban leaders. This warrant has been issued under allegations of gender -based offenses and crime against humanity. He says that Taliban leaders, especially Hibetullah Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Hakkani have tortured Afghan women and girls physically and mentally. According to reports, the Taliban has committed violence against women who wanted freedom in their identity and expression.
According to Karim Khan, “These Taliban leaders are directly involved in harassment and crimes against humanity.” All this is happening at a time when the Taliban has deprived women of joining education, health, working places, and public life since assuming power. Many women were brutally arrested, while others were given serious physical and mental torture.
Taliban opposition and threats
Taliban leaders and his supporters are badly angry with this arrest warrant. It is being threatened on their behalf that if their heads are arrested, they will blow the Hague court with suicidal attacks and bomb blasts. “We are sure that the Hague Court and its supporting countries do not have enough strength to implement this arrest,” this threatened by a supporter of the Taliban.
The Taliban has also said that if Sheikh Saheb (Akhundzada) take a decision against the Hague Court and order its supporters, the Taliban is ready to implement it. According to the Taliban, “Our court is more powerful than the Hague Court.” This statement reflects their terrorist plans and violent history, which once again suggests to the world that the Taliban is not ready to bear any international pressure.
Another big step of ICC
This action by the International Criminal Court is an important step against the Taliban. The court took this step when adequate evidence was collected about the war crimes and human rights violations committed by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Especially since the Taliban’s return to Afghanistan in 2021, violence, harassment and rape cases against women and children have increased.
After the Taliban came to power, the violation of these rights has increased to such an extent that the United Nations and other international organizations have expressed concern over it. These crimes include banning women’s education, ban on working of women in public places, and killings of women rights activists. In addition, Afghan men and women are not being given any freedom to speak against the ideology of the Taliban. Whoever speaks against the Taliban or opposes, is either killed or arrested and tortured.
Stock of India and other countries
India has also expressed strong concern over these human rights violations being carried out by the Taliban. India has raised its voice in international forums many times over the status of women and children being oppressed under the Taliban rule in Afghanistan. India has strongly condemned the violation of women’s education and their rights in Afghanistan. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has appealed to the United Nations and other international organizations to ensure the safety of Afghan women and children under the Taliban rule.
What will happen finally the future of the Taliban?
Despite the pressure of the international community and the decisions of the courts, these threats issued by the Taliban are making it clear that their stand is not going to be softened. Despite these threats and violence, the Taliban understands that it has the power to withstand any international pressure. This is why they do not think the pressure of ICC or any other international organization matters to them.
Although the international community has taken tough measures against the Taliban, it is yet to be seen what will be the effect of these strict actions against the Taliban. On the one hand, while the ICC has issued an arrest warrant, on the other hand, other international actions against the Taliban raise the question whether the Taliban will ever take back its step or will this struggle increase further?
