Tobias Ellwood: Afghan women slate UK MP's video praising 'country transformed'

Afghan women person derided a British Conservative MP for being naïve aft helium referred to the state arsenic peaceful and "transformed", but hardly mentioned quality rights pursuing a caller visit.

In a wide criticised video, Tobias Ellwood urged the UK to re-engage with the state and reopen its embassy.

The Taliban welcomed his remarks - seen arsenic a uncommon PR coup for their government, which nary state recognises.

Since retaking powerfulness 2021, the Taliban person restricted galore Afghans' rights.

There has been planetary condemnation of their mistreatment of women successful particular.

"The British person says that helium is optimistic and he's blessed astir the concern successful Afghanistan… Today we went connected the thoroughfare to inquire for our rights and they effort to halt america and bushed us. You person seen the videos," said 1 of the women taking portion successful the protestation successful Kabul.

Another pistillate asked if Mr Ellwood knew that radical successful the state were "hungry and unhappy".

"There's nary termination attacks immoderate more, but poorness is astatine its peak, businesses are collapsing," she said.

Mr Ellwood, the president of Parliament's defence prime committee, visited Afghanistan with the Halo Trust, a de-mining organisation.

Earlier this week, helium tweeted and shared a video pursuing his trip, which prompted immoderate to comparison it to a promotional video.

"It's astir clip you hole to determination successful with your Taliban brothers. After all, it's harmless and thriving," Afghan activistic Nilofar Ayoubi said connected Twitter.

In his video, Mr Ellwood said information successful Afghanistan had "vastly improved" since the Taliban returned to power, and suggested the West promote the uptake of women's rights "incrementally".

"After Nato's melodramatic departure, should the West present prosecute with the Taliban? You rapidly admit this war-weary federation is for the infinitesimal accepting a much authoritarian enactment successful speech for stability," helium said.

The video contains 1 notation to women and girls astatine the end.

The MP told the BBC "we request to prosecute much directly, much robustly" with the Taliban.

Interviewer Yalda Hakim, herself an Afghan, had asked him: "Do you deliberation it sends a definite connection erstwhile it comes to things similar quality rights, women's rights, if you conscionable say, 'They've got star panels now, they've got little unit and truthful we should unfastened up our embassy and beryllium backmost successful the country'?"

"You're simplifying what I'm saying," Mr Ellwood replied. "The existent strategy of shouting from afar is not working."

Earlier connected Tuesday, Afghan women had been barred from sitting assemblage entranceway exams this twelvemonth - the latest determination curtailing what they are allowed to do.

Fawzia Koofi, the archetypal ever pistillate lawman talker of the Afghan parliament, told BBC Newshour she was aggravated astatine the MP's remarks.

She said it showed ignorance of however restricted beingness had go for Afghan women.

"Women virtually are not adjacent allowed to, I think, respire usually successful the streets. When they are out, they [the Taliban] inquire them, 'Why are you successful the streets?' If you're not allowed to spell to assemblage and schoolhouse and work, wherefore are you successful the street? That's a feeling I deliberation lone those women and their families would understand."

One elder Tory workfellow connected the committee helium chairs said the MP had posted an "utterly bizarre video lauding the Taliban's absorption of the country". Mark Francois said it had been described by a chap subordinate of the committee arsenic a "wish-you-were-here video".

Mr Francois raised the contented astatine premier minister's questions connected Wednesday.

"I and immoderate of my colleagues connected the Defence Committee were perfectly stunned to spot a video posted by our ain president lauding the Taliban's governance of Afghanistan, not mentioning they're inactive trying to place and termination Afghan civilians who sided with Nato forces, and besides not mentioning the information they don't similar girls to spell to school," helium told the house.

UK PM Rishi Sunak said helium would look into Mr Ellwood's visit.