A Taliban delegation attended a United Nations-led meeting in Qatar on Sunday despite controversy over the exclusion of women from the gathering. This two-day meeting marks the third U.N.-sponsored event addressing the Afghan crisis in Doha.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesperson for the Taliban government and head of their delegation, confirmed their participation on social media. He mentioned meeting with representatives from Russia, India, and Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the conference.
Initially excluded from the first meeting, the Taliban faced conditions from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to participate in the February gathering, including demands to exclude Afghan civil society members and be recognized as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan. Since seizing power in August 2021, the Taliban has yet to gain international recognition, with bans on female education and employment posing significant obstacles.
Mujahid, speaking from Kabul on Saturday, expressed their mission in Doha as seeking understanding and resolving issues. “We urge countries not to abandon Afghanistan during these challenging times,” he emphasized, calling for active participation in the country’s reconstruction and economic recovery.
Discussions in Doha included international restrictions on Afghanistan’s financial system, challenges in expanding the private sector, and government efforts against drug trafficking, Mujahid disclosed.
Responding to criticism over the absence of Afghan women at the meeting, the United Nations’ top official in Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, defended the decision, assuring that women’s rights would remain a critical issue raised in diplomatic dialogues.
The Taliban’s participation in international forums like the one in Doha continues to be scrutinized amid ongoing efforts to address Afghanistan’s complex humanitarian and political challenges.
