‘Afghanistan hanging by a thread’

The Taliban must uphold the fundamental human rights of women and children, the United Nations chief said Wednesday, urging the international community to release frozen Afghan aid to prevent families from selling their babies to buy food.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also warned that "Afghanistan is hanging by a thread" as millions of impoverished citizens struggle to survive amid deteriorating humanitarian conditions.

"We urge the Taliban to seize this moment and garner international trust and goodwill by recognizing -- and upholding -- the basic human rights that belong to every girl and woman," Guterres told a UN Security Council meeting.

He expressed concern about recent reports of arbitrary arrests and abductions of women activists, saying: "I strongly appeal for their release."

Over half of all Afghans face "extreme levels of hunger," Guterres told the council, and "some families are selling their babies to purchase food."

The Taliban have held talks with Western powers in Oslo this week to release aid to avert the crisis. No country has recognized the Taliban government.