Taliban praise UN-led talks on women  Afghanistan despite exclusion of women

KABUL:

The Taliban government praised on Wednesday the “spirit of cooperation” towards Afghanistan in UN-led talks that excluded women from the country.

Monday marked the conclusion of two days of discussions on Afghanistan in Doha, when foreign special envoys and representatives of the United Nations were joined for the first time by Taliban leaders.

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The UN’s agreement to support the participation of the Taliban administration involved excluding civil society organizations from the key sessions, which rights groups fiercely criticized.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Taliban leadership, stated during a press conference in Kabul that foreign diplomats “had a good spirit of cooperation vis-a-vis Afghanistan and we could see that their policies for Afghanistan have positively changed.”

He continued, saying that “an atmosphere of trust has been created” and that “Afghanistan has come out of isolation.” Since the Taliban retook control in 2021, there have been three rounds of negotiations in Doha.

Read: Pakistan and Afghan Taliban had in-person discussions over the TTP

They insisted on being the only Afghan delegates, to the exclusion of other civil society organizations, including women’s organizations, and were not invited to the first round. They also declined to attend the second round.

“We were able to participate and inform the world of our position because this meeting was organized in accordance with Afghanistan’s demands and in consideration of our national interests,” Mujahid stated.

Since the Taliban came back to power, the international community has struggled with how to deal with them because no nation has formally recognized their administration.

Some others think that until the Taliban administration lifts restrictions on women and girls, they should be kept apart. Others contend that conversation should be started on other subjects.

“We informed the other nations that matters pertaining to Afghanistan’s citizens, particularly women, are matters within the country,” Mujahid stated. “Countries should not use it to impose political pressure.”

The focus of the current round of negotiations in Doha was on strengthening the private sector in Afghanistan and aiding the fight against drugs in the nation that has long been the world’s biggest opium grower. In order to talk about coordinating and boosting engagement with Afghanistan, the process was started.

More: UN calls on Taliban to allow women to participate in public life at talks in Doha

The UN came under fire for only inviting civil society organizations—including organizations that support women’s rights—to separate discussions held the day following the formal negotiations.

Human rights organizations expressed concern that marginalizing Afghan women would validate Taliban tactics that the UN has labeled as “gender apartheid.” However, Tomas Niklasson, the special envoy of the European Union to Afghanistan, claimed that giving up to Taliban authority for “good discussion” with all parties in Doha.

“The chance to speak with the Taliban, who showed up, as well as these people, the commercial sector, and civic society, who showed up… “I believe that it was worthwhile,” he said to AFP on Tuesday.