UN’s Qatar Meeting: Increased Taliban Engagement Sparks Global Debate

A UN-led meeting in Qatar on engaging with the Taliban does not imply recognition of their government. Despite exclusion of Afghan women, discussions included various global issues affecting Afghanistan. The Taliban took advantage of the event for publicity, while some nations criticized the lack of inclusivity.

In a recent development, a United Nations-led meeting held in Qatar focused on increasing engagement with Afghanistan's Taliban administration, without implying any recognition of their government, according to a UN official on Monday. The two-day gathering, hosted in Doha, marked the first instance where Taliban representatives participated in a UN-sponsored meeting, signaling a pivotal moment in international diplomatic efforts.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres previously stated that unacceptable conditions set by the Taliban had prevented their invitation to an earlier meeting. These conditions included demands to exclude Afghan civil society members and to treat the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan. Ahead of the Doha meeting, Afghan women representatives were controversially excluded, enabling Taliban envoys' participation. However, organizers assured that women's rights would remain a topic of discussion.

Rosemary A DiCarlo, a UN official for political and peacebuilding affairs, underscored that this engagement did not equate to normalization or recognition of the Taliban. She expressed hope that the discussions had edged closer to resolving issues adversely impacting Afghan citizens. Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid noted that the event facilitated dialogue with various countries, emphasizing the need for cooperation in the private sector and anti-drug efforts.

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