Several women have marched in front of the governor's office in Herat province of Western Afghanistan, demanding that the new government uphold their rights after the Taliban takes power.
Friba Kabrzani, one of the organizers of today's protest on Thursday, said women should be politically involved in the new government, including inclusion in the Cabinet and the tribal elders' tribunal known as Loya Jirga.
Kabrzani said for 20 years, Afghan women have sacrificed a lot to get to where they are now, so what they want is for the world to hear them and protect their rights. He said some families did not allow their women to take part in the protests out of fear for their safety, following the Taliba faction taking control of the country in mid-August.
Maryam Ebrahim, who participated in the protest, said that despite the Taliban giving good speeches on television, there were still reports of abuse of public power.
"We have witnessed them beating women again," Maryam said, adding that they would continue their protest until their rights were recognized.
The protests are taking place as Taliban leaders are expected to announce their new government. The group's leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, is expected to take up a new post in the new leadership council with the country's president under him.
UK: we can talk to the Taliban without recognizing their government
Elsewhere, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said - despite his nation's recent failure to recognize the Taliban government, there is an important opportunity for talks with the new Afghan rulers.
At a joint press conference with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Raab backed talks with the group to test their commitment, including protecting the freedom of travel for Afghan and foreign nationals, to form a coalition government. both political and important is to prevent international terrorist groups from using the country as their stronghold.
Raab has said they will measure the group based on what they do and not what they say. The recognition of the Taliban group is important to enabling it to access aid for development projects as well as the opportunity to borrow money from international financial institutions.
Meanwhile, Qatar's foreign minister, Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said it was unclear when the Kabul airport would reopen but that they were in talks with the Taliban to ensure it was done soon.
Operations at the airport were suspended from mid-August when the Taliban took control of the city of Kabul, but military planes continued to operate until August 31 when foreign troops withdrew from the country.
