UN meeting with Taliban ends
The contentious United Nations meeting with the Taliban regarding the situation in Afghanistan has come to an end. "The talks were sincere and, in my opinion, productive," said Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN representative, in Doha, Qatar's capital. "I hope the talks have brought us closer to a solution of problems that have a devastating effect on the Afghan population."
During the high-level meeting in the United Arab Emirates, where besides diplomats from the international community, the Taliban participated for the first time, discussions centered around drug control in the country. Furthermore, the situation of women and human rights in Afghanistan were addressed, according to DiCarlo.
The UN faced criticism prior to the two-day conference for excluding Afghan women from the talks. DiCarlo, looking at the suppression of women's rights in the country, emphasized that the event did not imply normalization or recognition of Taliban rule: "Afghanistan cannot return to the international community or fully unfurl economically and socially if the potential and contribution of half its population is withheld."
In February, the Taliban had previously declined to participate in a similar UN conference. The reason was the presence of representatives from the Afghan civil society. A meeting with the civil population, including women, is planned this time after the negotiations. To date, no country worldwide has officially recognized Taliban rule. Generally, the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban took power in 2021 is precarious.
Following the UN meeting with the Taliban in the United Arab Emirates, there are plans for conversations involving the Taliban and the civil population, including women, regarding their exclusion from previous talks. Despite the productive conversations at the UN meeting, no country has officially recognized Taliban rule, and the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains precarious.
