US imposes visa restrictions on Certain Taliban Members

PHOTO: HOSHANG HASHIMI/AFP VIA GETTY

As first reported by Kylie Atwood on CNN, the United States is imposing new visa restrictions on certain current and former Taliban members, non-state security group members and others who are believed to be involved in repressing the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.

The announcement comes more than a month after the Taliban announced bans on women attending universities and working with non-governmental organizations. Blinken cited those decisions as contributing to the new visa bans and said the US condemns the actions in “the strongest of terms.”

“The Taliban cannot expect the respect and support of the international community until they respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans, including women and girls,” Blinken said.

Blinken committed once again to working alongside allies to impose “significant costs” on the Taliban’s actions.

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