"I'm alarmed by today's announcement by the Taliban that women must cover their faces in public and leave home only in cases of necessity," the UN chief tweeted.   "I once again urge the Taliban to keep their promises to Afghan women & girls, and their obligations under international human rights law," he said.

On Saturday, in its latest diktat, the Taliban-led government has made burqa, the full body-covering Islamic dress, mandatory for women in Afghanistan, while in public.

Global reactions and concerns followed as the Taliban's decree surfaced. On Saturday, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has also expressed its concern over the face covering rules.

"UNAMA is deeply concerned with today's (Saturday) announcement by the Taliban that all women must cover their faces in public, should only leave their homes in cases of necessity, & that violations will lead to the punishment of their male relatives," the UN body said in a statement here.