Afghan women 'in peril' as UK troops leave

The withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan has led to warnings that the country will fall victim to lawlessness and the rule of warlords, threatening international aid efforts and the security of ordinary Afghans, particularly women.

Geoff Hoon, the Secretary of State for Defence, announced last week that 1,700 Royal Marines who have been in Afghanistan for the past three months are to be pulled out. On Thursday Britain also handed over control of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) which polices Kabul, to Turkey, a country that itself has a less than perfect record on human rights. Within weeks most of the 1,300 British troops in Isaf will be home.

Far from scaling down the force, however, Afghan and international aid organisations want its operations extended outside the capital. Northern Afghanistan is particularly unstable, they complain. "It is becoming almost impossible for many NGOs [non-governmental organisations] to work in northern areas," said Ian Purves of Acbar, which co-ordinates Afghan relief. "Every time a convoy with relief goods goes out, it risks being hijacked."

The United Nations last week complained of attacks and extortion by gunmen in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, including the gang rape of an American aid worker. But Afghanistan's Western-backed leader, Hamid Karzai, has no option but to work with the warlord who controls Mazar, Abdul Rashid Dostum, and others of his ilk who rule large areas of the country. Several have been given prominent positions in his government, and will not tolerate an Isaf presence in their territory.

Female Labour MPs concerned for the safety and human rights of Afghan women are urging a review of the decision to reduce the British military presence. Joan Ruddock, the co-ordinator of the UK Women's Link with Afghan Women, has urged Mr Hoon and the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, to think again.

"Any reduction in the overall numbers of Isaf troops could have a devastating impact upon women in particular, who are still fearful of the insults, beatings and rapes that they suffered in the past," Ms Ruddock said.

The recent loya jirga (grand assembly) in Kabul, which confirmed Mr Karzai as Afghan leader until elections are held, saw sharp criticism from many of the 200 women delegates. They denounced openly and by name many of the leaders now in the government, accusing them of helping to destroy the country during the four-year civil war which raged until the Taliban seized Kabul in 1996.

The women hoped the loya jirga would give them the voice in public affairs that they were denied under the Taliban, but only one woman was appointed to the cabinet. Dr Sohaila Siddiqi was retained as health minister. The Labour MPs supported an extension of Isaf to meet the calls of many women living in areas outside Kabul.

"The security situation outside of Kabul is tense, and there is an urgent need for the international community to review the overall situation," said Ms Ruddock. "The resurgence of warlordism has given new cause for concern, and underlines the vital role played by Isaf in maintaining security."

The issue was raised with Mr Straw at a private meeting of Labour MPs last week, and the MPs concerned intend to write to him and Mr Hoon to try to halt the withdrawal of troops or at least make provision for the further deployment of British forces in the future.

They warned that there was "no room for complacency". There were frequent reports of intimidation of women by armed men on the streets. Women were still being imprisoned for "crimes" such as seeking to marry a man of their choice.

Among reports from Afghan women was one from Kandahar which claimed there had been a violent attack on a group of young women by former Taliban elements, who beat them and cut their faces with knives. Human Rights Watch officials say they have credible reports that the Taliban's special Police for the Protection of Virtue and Prohibition of Vice are still patrolling some remote parts of southern Afghanistan and beating women with metal rods.

Shahla Matindost from the province of Badakhashan accused Northern Alliance members of threatening to throw acid in women's faces if they did not continue to wear the traditional burqa.