Afghan president: Women’s gains to be maintained

March 31, 2011 at 1:42p.m.

DALLAS (AP) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai says advances made in the role of women in Afghanistan “definitely, affirmatively” will be maintained in any reconciliation talks with the Taliban.

Karzai spoke today via video at a conference hosted by the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas.

Before Karzai’s appearance, former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush stressed the importance of women retaining their freedoms in Afghanistan.

Some Afghan women fear their government’s efforts to reconcile with the Taliban, who severely repressed and brutalized women. Laura Bush was outspoken in her support of Afghan women when she was in Washington.

About 250 people are attending the two-day conference.