From Our
Correspondent
WASHINGTON: The US on Wednesday appointed an Envoy to defend the rights of Afghan women, signalling a key priority as the Taliban ratchet up restrictions.
Rina Amiri, an Afghan-born US scholar and mediation expert who served at the State Department under former president Barack Obama, will take the role of special envoy for Afghan women, girls and human rights, State Secretary Antony Blinken announced.
Months after the US ended its 20-year war in Afghanistan, Blinken said that Amiri will address issues of “critical importance to me” and the rest of US President Joe Biden’s administration.
“We desire a peaceful, stable and secure Afghanistan, where all Afghans can live and thrive in political, economic and social inclusivity,” Blinken said in a statement.
In a tweet, he added that Amiri brings “over two decades of expertise and specialised knowledge that will advance our vital work toward a more peaceful, stable, and secure Afghanistan for all”.
