The United States unreservedly condemns the latest attempted assassination of the mayor of Maidan Shar, in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, Mayor Zarifa Ghafari. She is a recipient of the 2020 International Women of Courage award, and this is the sixth assassination attempt she has survived.
As I have said before, the future of Afghanistan will not be won by those who seek to accomplish their political goals through violence and terror. Women belong in the public square, in Afghanistan and every other country around the world. The landmark negotiations in Doha represent the best chance in a generation for a durable, inclusive peace in Afghanistan. The use of violence to intimidate will only undermine the process. Any attempt to silence Mayor Ghafari and other brave Afghan women leaders will not succeed.
