The United Kingdom has welcomed the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Taliban leaders, calling it a step towards accountability for human rights abuses in Afghanistan.

In a statement to Afghanistan International on Thursday, a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said the UK stands with the people of Afghanistan and strongly opposes the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls.

The UK does not recognise the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan and has repeatedly denounced the group’s policies as oppressive and discriminatory, particularly toward women and girls.

While maintaining limited and pragmatic dialogue with the Taliban when aligned with national interests, the UK reaffirmed its commitment to supporting international investigations and efforts to ensure accountability for crimes committed in Afghanistan.

The spokesperson also confirmed that the UK backs efforts to refer the Taliban to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over violations of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Additionally, the UK welcomed the ICC’s continued focus on the plight of Afghan women and girls, underscoring the need for justice and international attention to their ongoing persecution.