Afghan women in a northern Kabul neighbourhood have taken to the streets on Tuesday to demand equal rights under the Taliban regime.

Footage shows the women gathering in Wazir Akbar Khan in Kabul, holding up signs and chanting protests for women to be allowed participation in governance, politics, and the economy.

Taliban forces seized Kabul on August 15, settling into the presidential palace after Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.

In its first press conference since the takeover, on August 17 Taliban war lords vowed to uphold equal rights for women ‘within the framework of Islamic law’.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said: ‘We are going to allow women to work and study. We have got frameworks, of course. Women are going to be very active in the society but within the framework of Islam.’

Human rights groups fear the return of the draconian policies that were enforced under the previous Taliban regime two decades ago.

The United States called for an ‘inclusive and representative’ government with women involved.