Taliban Engage in Diplomatic Talks in Doha with UN and Special Envoys

DOHA: Representatives from Afghanistan's Taliban government initiated discussions with UN officials on Sunday in Doha, Qatar. This meeting marks the first time Taliban authorities have participated in such talks, which are part of a series of UN-hosted meetings aimed at addressing issues in Afghanistan.

A UN spokesperson indicated that preliminary discussions have started, with separate meetings between the UN, various special envoys, and the Taliban representatives.

The meeting involves UN officials and more than 20 special envoys, including the US special representative to Afghanistan. The discussions are led by the Taliban delegation under spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, with a focus on enhancing international engagement with Afghanistan.

Since the Taliban's takeover in 2021, the global community has faced challenges in determining its stance towards Afghanistan's new leadership. The Taliban have yet to be officially recognized by other countries due to their controversial laws concerning women, which the UN has labeled as "gender apartheid."

Previously, the Taliban were excluded from the first round of UN talks in May 2023 and chose not to attend the second round in February, insisting that their delegation should be the sole representatives of Afghanistan. This demand has now been accommodated, resulting in the exclusion of civil society groups, which will meet separately with representatives on Tuesday. Taliban foreign ministry official Zakir Jalaly emphasized that these meetings are "unrelated" to the official agenda.

The exclusion of civil society organizations has been met with criticism, particularly from women's rights activists. Agnes Callamard, the head of Amnesty International, warned that "yielding to the Taliban’s conditions to ensure their participation in the talks risks legitimizing their gender-based institutionalized system of oppression."

During a news conference in Kabul on Saturday, Mujahid acknowledged the issues concerning women but maintained that these were "Afghanistan’s issues" to resolve. Hameed Hakimi, an expert on Afghanistan, highlighted the international community's concern over women's rights and the role of civil society. He noted that while policymakers recognize the Taliban's shortcomings, there is still a need for engagement due to the significant gap left by the Afghan people themselves.

In response to the Taliban's return to power, many governments and international organizations have significantly reduced or ceased funding to Afghanistan, exacerbating its economic struggles. A specialist from Chatham House highlighted the complex balance between addressing the humanitarian crisis, which requires funding, and the necessity of political engagement.

Ahead of the UN discussions, the Taliban delegation held meetings in Doha with special envoys from Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan, as reported by Mujahid on X, formerly known as Twitter.