On May 31, Heather Barr, interim co-director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Twitter that on the one hand, the Taliban are persistently pleading for recognition and inflow of international aid, on the other hand, they continue to intensify repressing Afghan women and girls, reports The Khaama Press News Agency. She further said, “I don’t think it’s a new willingness—just new to see Akhundzada. The Taliban have always been keen, since Aug 21, to press their demands—for engagement, aid, recognition, congratulations. Parallel to these talks their crackdown on women/girls has steadily continued & deepened.”