KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A small group of Afghan women protested near the presidential palace in Kabul on Friday, demanding equal rights from the Taliban as Afghanistan’s new rulers work on forming a government and seeking international recognition. But many Afghans, especially women, are deeply skeptical and fear a rollback of rights gained over the last two decades. Around 20 women with microphones gathered under the watchful eyes of Taliban gunmen, who allowed the demonstration to proceed. “We are concerned about the issues of human rights in Afghanistan, notably on the rights of women,” U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday. Tens of thousands of Afghans fled the country after the Taliban takeover in a massive US-led airlift out of Kabul international airport.
