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  • Writer's pictureDPPC Team

DPPC: The U.S. Must Lead on Sanctions Against the Taliban and its Leadership

Updated: Aug 19, 2021

The Afghanistan-U.S. Democratic Peace and Prosperity Council (DPPC) is calling on the Biden Administration to lead an effort in the United Nations to expand sanctions against the Taliban’s political organization and its leadership in response to war crimes. While atrocities are not new for the Taliban, recent reports have emerged in Afghanistan of assassinations as well as the execution of prisoners who have surrendered, showing the Taliban has no desire for peace or respect for the Geneva Convention.

“What the Taliban craves is recognition by the international community,” said Martin Rahmani, Executive Director of the DPPC. “Afghanistan is not lost, but the Taliban is preparing to take over and they will face the challenge of governance – they know how much international support is needed to hold the country together. The international community must deny them legitimacy for the war crimes they have committed.”

While the Biden Administration is resolved in leaving Afghanistan, it still can lead within international institutions. The Taliban will not respect its calls for peace without a show of force. If the Biden Administration does not want to use the American military, it can put the full weight of its diplomatic power behind an extensive sanctions regime to freeze out the Taliban.

Without the U.S. to lead on sanctions, other nations will move to recognize the Taliban in efforts to stem an inevitable refugee crisis. This would be an absolute failing of the U.S. and the international community.


Recent reports of atrocities by the Taliban include:

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