SYDNEY: Australia imposed financial sanctions and travel bans on four officials in Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Saturday over what it said was a deteriorating human rights situation in the country, especially for women and girls.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the officials were involved “in the oppression of women and girls and in undermining good governance or the rule of law” in Afghanistan.
The Taliban continues to demonstrate contempt for the rights, freedoms and welfare of the Afghan people, particularly women and girls,” she said in a statement.
“The Australian government remains deeply concerned at the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.
“Our thoughts are with those suffering under the Taliban’s oppression, as well as the Afghan community in Australia.”
Australia was one of several nations which pulled troops out of Afghanistan in Aug 2021, after being part of a Nato-led international force that trained Afghan security forces and fought the Taliban for two decades after Western-backed forces ousted them from power in 2001.
