KABUL: As Afghanistan braces for crucial UN-convened talks in Doha, Taliban authorities have outlined specific conditions for their participation, raising uncertainties about the extent of their involvement just a day before the meetings are set to begin.
Scheduled to begin on Sunday, the talks aim to facilitate more coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, building upon discussions held in Doha in May 2023, which notably excluded Afghan representation.
While invitations have been extended to both Afghan civil society members and Taliban authorities for the upcoming meetings, the nature of the Taliban government’s participation remains ambiguous, with officials suggesting that their delegation may abstain if certain conditions are not met.
Taliban Reiterates Demands to UN
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Taliban’s foreign ministry reiterated their demands to the United Nations, emphasizing the necessity for the Taliban to be recognized as the sole official representative of Afghanistan. Additionally, they stressed the importance of holding substantive discussions at a senior level between the Afghan delegation and UN officials.
The statement underscored that the Taliban’s participation would only be deemed beneficial if these conditions were met, expressing skepticism about the efficacy of their involvement otherwise.
Sources indicate that the Taliban delegation has requested a direct meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during the talks to present their position. Furthermore, they have insisted on being the sole Afghan representatives at the Doha meetings.
Since seizing power in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US troops, the Taliban government has not received official recognition from any country. Varying approaches by states to engage with the new authorities reflect concerns over issues such as women’s rights restrictions and security challenges, complicating efforts to establish a cohesive international strategy towards Afghanistan.
