Amir Khan Muttaqi, Afghan FM: Not everything is banned for women

“The conduct with women shouldn’t be looked at through the glasses of western culture and tradition. Afghan values should be considered..You can wander around Afghanistan, in Kabul in the cities, see the way women work, do business or go to elementary schools or to Madrassas, the situation isn’t the way it can be interpreted.”

Lyse Doucet, the BBC’s Chief International correspondent, meets Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi as the Taliban seeks greater international recognition.

The Taliban returned to power five years ago but Russia is still the only country to have formally recognised their rule.

Afghanistan is pushing for stronger diplomatic relations, but their treatment of women and girls remains one of the biggest obstacles.

We ask the Foreign Minister why Afghan women and girls are facing growing restrictions on education, work and public life. Afghanistan also needs more aid and investment in the midst of a deepening humanitarian and economic crisis. Are the Taliban prepared to do more to achieve full international recognition?

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with the UN secretary General Antonio Guterres, the former Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet and the film director Christopher Nolan. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Lyse Doucet

Producer: Farhana Haider

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Amir Khan Muttaqi. Credit: Reuters)