‘Afghani women and girls are going to suffer unspeakable harm’

Since the escalation of Taliban violence, there have been signs that the already limited maternity care could be further restricted. Pic/AFP

Former President George W. Bush criticised the Western withdrawal from Afghanistan in an interview with a German broadcaster released Wednesday, saying he fears that Afghan women and girls will ‘suffer unspeakable harm.'

Asked in an interview with German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle whether the withdrawal is a mistake, Bush replied, "You know, I think it is, yeah, because I think the consequences are going to be unbelievably bad."

The war in Afghanistan began under Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. The withdrawal of US and NATO troops set in motion earlier this year by current President Joe Biden is now nearing completion. Taliban fighters have been surging through district after district, taking control of large swaths of the country.

"It's unbelievable how that society changed from the brutality of the Taliban, and all of a sudden - sadly - I'm afraid Afghan women and girls are going to suffer unspeakable harm," Bush said.

"I'm sad," Bush said. "Laura (Bush) and I spent a lot of time with Afghan women, and they're scared. And I think about all the interpreters and people that helped not only U.S. troops but NATO troops, and it seems like they're just going to be left behind to be slaughtered by these very brutal people. And it breaks my heart."

Make a clean break from all terrorist forces: China

In a significant policy statement on the Taliban, China has asked Afghanistan to make a "clean break" from all terrorist forces, especially al-Qaida-backed Uyghur Muslim militant group ETIM fighting for the volatile Xinjiang province's independence. In Dushanbe, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed further spread of the war in Afghanistan, especially an all-out civil war, should be avoided and pitched for restarting intra-Afghan negotiations to realise political reconciliation and prevention of terrorist forces from gaining ground in Afghanistan.

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