Taliban asks women healthcare workers to resume duties

KABUL, Afghanistan

Nearly two weeks after taking power in the capital Kabul, the Taliban in Afghanistan have asked all women public healthcare workers to resume their duties.

Suhail Shaheen, the group’s spokesman, said in a statement that the Taliban has no issue with women healthcare workers resuming their jobs.

This is the first official stance from the Taliban on public healthcare workers since the Aug. 15 fall of the government, when the Taliban took Kabul.

The move was welcomed by some.

"I am the only and first Afghan neurosurgeon holding the topmost medical degree in neurosurgery from CPSP (College of Physicians and Surgeons) Pakistan. If you assure my security I’m ready to come to Kabul," one person replied to Shaheen on social media.

Separately, the Taliban also issued a stern warning to hand over all arms and resources looted during the early days of their entry into Kabul.

"All those who have the resources, weapons, ammunition, and other government goods are informed to hand over the mentioned objects to the relevant organs of the Islamic Emirate within a week," it said, adding that violators would face legal sanctions.

Sources told Anadolu Agency that the Taliban are busy in consultations as talks continue to ensure their control over the last remaining province of Panjshir, which has not fallen to the group despite their sweeping advances nationwide.

The Taliban last announced that they had declared an amnesty for everyone in Afghanistan and called on people to return to work.