In spite of concerns from the Kabul government that the conference would be “counter-productive,” United Nations chief Antonio Guterres convened a second day of discussions with international leaders on how to deal with Afghanistan Taliban commanders on Tuesday.
Guterres then organised the talks in Doha after the Taliban government forbade Afghan women from working for the UN, the international organisation had to reevaluate its massive relief efforts in Afghanistan. Guterres then organised the talks in Doha.
Additionally, women are not allowed to work for other NGOs, attend almost all secondary and postsecondary institutions, or hold most government positions.
The Taliban government is not present at the discussions, which are attended by representatives from the United States, Russia, China, and 20 other nations and organisations, including significant European donors and neighbours like Pakistan.
“Any meeting without the participation of IEA (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) representatives — the main party to the issue — is unproductive and even sometimes counter-productive,” said the head of the Taliban political office in Doha, Suhail Shaheen.
“How can a decision taken at such meetings be acceptable or implemented while we are not part of the process? It is discriminatory and unjustified,” he said.
A delegation led by the Afghan foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, will go to Islamabad at the end of the week to meet with Chinese and Pakistani officials, the ministry announced on Tuesday.
Muttaqi, whose travel is prohibited by the UN, has already received permission to go to the bordering nation for negotiations.
Last week, the UN Security Council unanimously denounced the ban on its Afghan women employees, which, according to the international organisation, has seriously jeopardised its efforts to aid the populace.
Women’s organisations organised rallies on Saturday out of concern that the Doha gathering would suggest taking measures to recognise the Taliban government that took back power in August 2021.
However, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated on Monday that “is not up for discussion” at the talks, which are taking place in secret.
According to Djurric, the meeting’s topics would include women’s rights, government in Afghanistan, and methods to combat terrorism and drug trafficking.
Guterres wants “a common understanding with the international community on how to engage with the Taliban on these issues”, he added.
On Friday, the UN is expected to wrap up its evaluation of its operations in Afghanistan. The international organisation claims it must make a “appalling choice” over its future in the nation.
