In Afghanistan, women cannot travel more than 5 km alone

Kabul, Ta. 3

The Taliban claimed to give women their rights when they came to power in Afghanistan. However, he has now backtracked on his promise. The Taliban has banned women from traveling long distances alone.

Taliban officials have said that women traveling long distances should not be allowed on the road unless they have a close male or relative with them. As per the guidelines issued by the ministry, vehicle owners have been appealed to keep women who do not wear headscarves away from the journey.

The move comes after the Taliban barred women from returning to work in public-sector roles after taking power on August 15.

Ministry spokesperson Sadiq Akif Muhajir said women traveling more than 3 km should not be allowed to travel alone if they have no relationship with them. The new guidelines also tell people not to play music in their vehicles.

Human Rights Watch, on the other hand, has criticized the Taliban's new mandate and guidelines. Pakistan is also the first to publicly criticize any decision of the Taliban. Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has criticized the Taliban's decision to ban women from traveling alone in public places in Afghanistan.

"Women cannot travel alone, they cannot go to school and college alone. This kind of Taliban ideology is a threat to Pakistan," Chaudhry said.