Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Recently, the first lady of Afghanistan, R. Ghani, stated that the loss of women’s rights in the country cannot be “the price of peace”. But that could happen if the Taliban, who are likely to return to power in any peace deal, fail to make a serious commitment to protecting the rights of the most disadvantaged part of Afghan society. This group includes marginalized communities, internally displaced persons and refugees, as well as over 14 million women and girls.

Gender equality should be a fundamental condition of any peace agreement, as it is a fundamental human right and essential for sustainable peace. That said, the consequences of the fragile agreement extend far beyond Afghanistan, as the stability of the entire region is at stake, as well as a durable solution for millions of Afghan refugees.

A peace agreement between the US and the Taliban pushed Kabul and Taliban to negotiate. But this agreement has serious flaws. The pact has failed to ensure mandatory representation of women in negotiations, protect women’s rights, or demand a strong commitment from the Taliban to protect marginalized groups. The document did not mention any support for internally displaced Afghans or improving conditions for refugees returning from abroad. And these are significant omissions.

The situation of Afghan women and girls has improved over the past two decades. The average life expectancy for women has increased by about 10 years, and the maternal mortality rate has decreased by 50%. However, there are no secondary schools for girls in Taliban-controlled areas. Taliban puts severe pressure on women and girls. It is noteworthy that the Taliban each time refuse to specify what the life of Afghan women will look like with his official participation in the government. Without a clear commitment from the Taliban, the progress made by Afghan women over the past two decades will be greatly threatened.

In this context, it should be emphasized that as negotiations continue, the Taliban must commit to protecting the rights of the most disadvantaged in Afghan society.