The Taliban has set unacceptable circumstances for attending a United Nations-sponsored assembly about Afghanistan within the Qatari capital, Doha, UN Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres says.
“I obtained a letter [from the Taliban] with a set of circumstances to be current on this assembly that weren’t acceptable,” Guterres stated at a information convention on Monday.
“These circumstances denied us the appropriate to speak to different representatives of Afghan society and demanded a therapy that will, to a big extent, be just like recognition,” the UN chief added.
The 2-day assembly which ended on Monday in Doha introduced collectively member states and worldwide envoys to Afghanistan to debate an array of points dealing with the nation. However the Taliban didn’t attend as a result of its calls for weren’t met.
The Taliban took over Kabul in August 2021 after United States and NATO forces withdrew following 20 years of battle.
Nonetheless, no nation recognises it as Afghanistan’s authorities, and the UN has stated that recognition is nearly inconceivable whereas bans on feminine schooling and employment stay in place.
The largest level of rivalry between the worldwide group and the Taliban are the bans imposed on ladies and women.
Because it retook energy, it has ordered ladies to cowl up when leaving residence, stopped women and girls from attending highschool and college, and banned them from parks, gyms and public baths.
The Taliban insists the bans are a home matter and reject criticism as outdoors interference.
Guterres stated it was important to revoke the restrictions.
In January, Taliban chief spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, stated the UN preoccupation with Afghan ladies was unwarranted and dismissed its issues.
“Afghan ladies put on hijab of their very own accord,” he stated on X. “They don’t should be pressured. The Vice and Advantage Ministry hasn’t pressured anybody [to wear hijab] both.”
One other level of rivalry is the appointment of a UN particular envoy within the nation, which the Taliban opposes.
On Monday, Guterres stated there wanted to be “clear consultations” with the Taliban to have clarification of the envoy’s function and who it may very well be to “make it engaging” from the Taliban’s perspective.
He stated it was within the Taliban’s pursuits to be a part of the consultations.
Many governments, worldwide organisations and support companies have reduce off or severely scaled again their funding for Afghanistan in response to the Taliban insurance policies, inflicting a critical blow to the nation’s struggling financial system.
“Considered one of our principal goals is to beat this impasse,” Guterres stated, explaining {that a} roadmap wanted to be created by which “the issues of the worldwide group” and the issues of the “de facto authorities of Afghanistan” are taken under consideration.
Lotfullah Najafizada, CEO of Amu TV, a world media outlet, advised Al Jazeera the Taliban made a strategic mistake by not attending the talks.
“I feel it is rather vital additionally for the Taliban to grasp the place the world stands. For the time being the world has deliberate to go forward with out the Taliban, which isn’t one thing that they anticipated,” he stated.
“I feel it is rather vital for the worldwide group to construct consensus and take care of the Taliban with one voice.”
The assembly in Doha additionally aimed toward a extra coordinated response to deal with points in Afghanistan.
Guterres stated there had been dialogue of a “contact group”, with a “restricted variety of states capable of have a extra coordinated method within the engagement with the de facto authorities”.
He stated this might embrace everlasting members of the UN Safety Council, neighbouring nations and related donors however it will be “as much as member states to determine learn how to create it”.
“I imagine it will be a approach to have coherence in the best way the worldwide group is partaking with the de facto authorities of Afghanistan,” he stated.