The United Nations (UN) has convened a two-day closed-door meeting in Doha, Qatar, with the participation of envoys from around 25 countries and groups to address Afghanistan’s dire humanitarian situation and international isolation. However, the Taliban, who currently governs the country, was not invited to the talks. While concerns have been raised against possible recognition of the Taliban, the meeting aims to discuss finding a way back to recognition for the country.
The Doha meeting is crucial for the international community’s engagement with Afghanistan, especially as the UN is expected to review its critical relief operation in the country in the wake of Afghan women being stopped from working with the global agency. The review is scheduled to be completed on Friday.
The former US envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmai Khalilzad hopes that the meeting will produce a realistic roadmap for international engagement with the country. Moreover, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres is hosting representatives from 21 countries and two multilateral organizations in the Qatari capital of Doha to find a way out of this dilemma.
The UN’s Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is currently in crisis, with the head of the mission ordering an operational review after months of internal dithering and mixed messages from Taliban leaders. Local UNAMA employees have been instructed to work from home, and the agency is struggling to find a way forward in the face of Taliban aggression.
The Doha meeting is an opportunity for the international community to come together and support Afghanistan’s people. It is essential to ensure that any aid or recognition provided to the country is conditional on the protection of women’s rights and the guarantee of basic human freedoms. The UN’s commitment to the Afghan people remains steadfast, and the world is watching to see how the organization will help Afghanistan in its time of need.
