Two judges working for the Afghan Supreme Court, both women, were shot dead in Kabul while driving to their office in a court vehicle on 17 January. Whilst this attack was condemned by both the Afghan President and the wider international community, it does not come as a shock given the recent wave of violence levelled against public figures in the country.
TENSION IN PEACE TALKS
It is not yet clear whether the targeting of these two Afghan Supreme Court judges was motivated by their sex, or simply because of their jobs. Victims of the latest violence have included politicians, activists, journalists, doctors, and prosecutors. Afghan officials have stated they believe the Taliban is responsible for the attacks, although a spokesperson for the group denied this charge. Rival terrorist organisation Islamic State has claimed responsibility for multiple recent attacks, including one on Kabul University which killed at least 22 people.
The killings come at a significant time in terms of relations between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Peace talks brokered by the United States are currently ongoing between representatives from both sides in Qatar, but unsurprisingly these have been complicated by the violence. Afghan officials believe the fresh wave of attacks is the result of 5,000 Taliban militants being released in 2020, following a peace agreement between that group and the US.
US TROOPS PULLED BY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
This tension falls under the wider context of the decision of the Trump administration to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan. The move was agreed with the Taliban in exchange for militants complying with certain security guarantees, though this decision has increasingly become controversial. Some military officials in the US have urged the outgoing President not to continue the withdrawal, in light of the attacks and the Taliban’s failure to end co-operation with al Qaeda, as required by their agreement. The Vice-President of Afghanistan has also warned that continuing the pull-out – in which all US soldiers are due to leave by May – would increase the violence. Individuals from both sides of the negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban have suggested that significant progress is only likely to be made when incoming President Biden makes clear his policy in relation to the conflict.
It is clear that President Biden will have to consider his decision carefully, as it could have serious implications for the safety of certain sections of the Afghan population.
Rhiannon is an LLB student at Swansea University, who intends to pursue a career at the Bar of England and Wales. She has particular interests in criminal and human rights law. She has sat on the committee of her university’s Bar Society and is incoming President of its Feminist Society.