The Islamic Emirate reacted to the new sanctions imposed by the US on the members of the Islamic Emirate, saying that such sanctions do not benefit Kabul and Washington.

The US Department of State announced on Tuesday new restrictions on the “issuance of visas for the current or former Taliban members, members of non-state security groups, and other individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, repressing women and girls in Afghanistan through restrictive policies and violence.”

The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that the imposition of these sanctions is a violation of the Doha agreement.

“We say to the US that the continuation of such sanctions neither benefits the US nor Afghanistan. It is also in contrast with the Doha agreement. We want these sanctions to be lifted and efforts should be made to normalize the relations between the two countries,” he said.

The US Department of State said that despite public assurances that the Islamic Emirate would respect the human rights of all Afghans, the “Taliban has issued and enforced a series of policies or edicts that effectively bar women and girls in Afghanistan from full participation in public life, including access to secondary education and work in most industries.”

Rahmatullah Bizhanpor, a political analyst, said that the new sanctions by the US indicate "that either the US will engage in the diplomatic arena with the Taliban or it will cause an opportunity or opposition of the US vis-a-vis the Taliban."

“The problems which are imposed on the Islamic Emirate--they will finally have a direct impact on the nation. I hope the US stops this stubbornness and follows negotiations and diplomacy, and the Islamic Emirate should also show flexibility,” said Janat Fahim Chakari, a political analyst.

Human Rights Watch called the imposition of these sanctions on the immediate family members of the Islamic Emirate unjust.

“The US policy says that it may also apply to family members of the Taliban members. This provision should be removed or at least should be used very, very sparingly because we know that it would be unfair to punish family members who may not be responsible at all for the actions of their relatives,” said Heather Barr, the Associate Director of the Women's Rights Division at Human Rights Watch.

This comes as members of the UN Security Council have yet to make a final decision regarding the travel ban exception for 13 members of the Islamic Emirate.