The Taliban will be absent from Monday’s opening session of UN-led talks in Qatar on how to deal with Afghanistan’s rulers and persuade them to lift the prohibition on women working and girls attending school.
Representatives from approximately 25 countries and organizations, including the United States, China, and Russia. Antonio Guterres invited major European aid donors and critical neighbours including Pakistan to the two-day talks.
However, the Taliban government has not been invited, and the issue of recognizing the administration has loomed before the meeting.
Over the weekend, a few Afghan women protested the restored rulers in August 2021 in Kabul.
In an open letter to the Doha meeting released on Sunday, a coalition of Afghan women’s organizations said they were “outraged” that any country would consider formal ties given the government’s stance that its treatment of women’s rights is “an internal social issue”
Recognition is not on the agenda, according to the United Nations and the United States.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed stated last month that the Doha meeting could discover “baby steps” that lead to a “principled recognition” of the Taliban government, fueling the fears of human rights organizations.
The UN stated that the comments were misconstrued. No nation has formal links with the Taliban government, and the UN General Assembly also decides membership.
Before Guterres’ presence in Doha, his office stated that the purpose of the meeting was to “reach a consensus within the international community on how to engage with the Taliban” on women’s and girls’ rights, inclusive governance, countering terrorism, and drug trafficking.
Hina Rabbani Khar will present Pakistan’s stance on Afghanistan.
The Foreign Office (FO) announced on Monday that State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar will attend the meeting of special envoys on Afghanistan that will take place in Doha from May 1 to May 2.
The FO announced today that Khar will meet with other participating nations’ leaders.
It was stated that the state minister for foreign affairs will present Pakistan’s perspective on Afghanistan and work with international and regional partners to reach a consensus on the next steps.
“Pakistan will also continue to support all efforts to advance the shared objectives of a peaceful, stable, sovereign, prosperous, and connected Afghanistan,” the press release concluded.
UN dilemma
Last week, US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel categorically denied any Taliban recognition.
Since overthrowing a government backed by foreign powers in 2021. Taliban authorities have imposed a strict interpretation of Sharia law that the United Nations has labeled “gender-based apartheid.”
Women have been excluded from the majority of secondary schools and universities. Also the majority of government and non-governmental organization positions.
Despite numerous disagreements, the powers of the United Nations Security Council united on Thursday to condemn the restrictions on Afghan women and girls and urge all nations to pursue “an urgent reversal” of the policies.
Diplomats and observers assert that the Doha conference highlights the dilemma the international community faces in Afghanistan. Which the United Nations considers to be the world’s largest humanitarian crisis with millions of people dependent on food aid.
Amina Mohammed stated that it is “clear” that the Taliban authorities desire recognition. Formal UN ties would help the government recover billions in seized funds abroad.
Diplomats from numerous Doha negotiators said this would not be possible until women’s rights are strengthened. After last week’s UN resolution, the Afghan foreign ministry stated that “diversity should be respected and not politicized.”
Diplomats said the UN head would update the Doha summit on a review of the key Afghan relief effort. Which was ordered in April after Afghan authorities prohibited Afghan women from interacting with UN agencies.
The UN faces a “appalling choice” about whether to continue its vast operation in the 38 million-person nation. On Friday, the evaluation is expected to be completed.
