UN General Assembly President Baerbock meets Afghan women activists, pledges support amid Taliban-US tensions

Annalena Baerbock, identified as President of the UN General Assembly, met on Thursday in New York with three Afghan women athletes and human rights activists to discuss the human rights situation and the campaign to recognize gender apartheid in Afghanistan.

Baerbock stated she has always been the voice of support for Afghan women and will back their demands in any position she holds. In a post on X, she wrote that she discussed "the fight for gender justice in Afghanistan and using sports to bring peace in Afghanistan" with the Afghan figures, emphasizing her support for their efforts. Participants included Fariba Rezai, the first woman to represent Afghanistan at the Olympics; Zakia Khudadadi, a Paralympic taekwondo medalist who told Afghanistan International she requested Baerbock's backing for the gender apartheid recognition campaign; and Najia Hanifi of an organization advocating for Afghan girls' right to education.

Separately, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in an interview with ToloNews that the issue of detained U.S. citizens in Afghanistan "is not complicated or serious," stating they would be released through judicial processes or bilateral talks. Mujahid emphasized that only two U.S. citizens are in custody and denied the detention of Afghan-American Mahmoud Shah Habibi. The U.S. maintains three of its citizens, including Habibi, are held by the Taliban.

The U.S. State Department recently listed Taliban-controlled Afghanistan among hostage-taking countries, with the U.S. foreign minister accusing the Taliban of using American citizens as political tools. Mujahid rejected this, saying no illegal detentions occurred and the detainees violated Afghan laws. He called U.S. pressures and threats ineffective and described the listing as a pretext for future scenarios, without specifying them.

Adam Boehler, the U.S. president's representative on hostages, warned that failure to release detainees could lead to consequences like those faced by Iran under heavy U.S. airstrikes. Mujahid likened U.S. policy to wartime approaches, citing sanctions, blacklists and alleged use of Pakistani generals for regional destabilization.

On regional developments, Mujahid said the Iranian regime "will not fall," citing its strong army, and stated the Taliban would not intervene in any U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran but expressed concern over its impact on Afghanistan.