Sami Yousufzai warns Taliban policies risk ‘total international isolation’

KABUL: Political activist and prominent journalist Sami Yousufzai has strongly criticized the policies of the Taliban in an open letter to their leader, warning that their current approach is steering the country toward complete international isolation and destruction. Yousufzai stated that due to the Taliban’s weak policies, innocent members of a family have once again suffered, with 17 lives lost, while the world remains silent, accepting Pakistan’s narrative that labels these Afghans as “terrorists.” He wrote that the Taliban once brought “the armies of 52 countries” upon the people in the name of “al-Qaeda,” and now they are using the pretext of the “Pakistani TTP” to target innocent Afghans with missiles. Yousufzai emphasized that restrictions against girls and women, along with the Taliban’s bias, have turned Afghanistan into a “target practice” for global bombings. He urged the Taliban to move away from the “completely illiterate framework” of monopolizing power and allow for national talent, asserting that the Kalashnikov conflict cannot defend the country. The letter also pointed out that the Taliban cannot even procure a simple “radar” for Bagram Airfield, as no one views them as a legitimate and reliable authority. In conclusion, he stated that “legitimacy and an inclusive government” are the solutions to all grievances, and if the Taliban fail to take these steps, this desperate and oppressed nation will inevitably rise against them.