United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced on Monday that during a two-day summit in Doha, global envoys made progress on several critical aspects related to Afghanistan, though challenges persist.
Guterres emphasized the vision of a peaceful Afghanistan, harmonious both internally and with its neighbors, and capable of fulfilling the responsibilities and international duties of a sovereign nation.
He highlighted during a press briefing post-meeting that significant hurdles need to be addressed to resolve the stalemate surrounding Afghanistan’s situation.
Guterres noted the international community’s lack of recognition of Afghanistan’s current government, highlighting its exclusion from global institutions and economic systems.
He also raised concerns about the worsening situation of human rights in the country, especially regarding the treatment of women and girls.
According to Guterres, it’s essential to devise a unified strategy that caters to the international community’s concerns and the demands of the Afghan authorities.
The conference, led by Guterres, saw participation from over 20 nations and international bodies, including China, Russia, and the United States. However, the Taliban, who currently hold power in Afghanistan, were not present at the meeting.
According to the UN chief, the conditions set by Taliban authorities to attend the meeting were “not acceptable.”
“These conditions first of all denied us the right to talk to other representatives of the Afghan society and demanded a treatment that would, to a large extent, be similar to recognition,” Guterres said.
The Taliban government forced hundreds of women to leave their jobs, alleging non-compliance with the Sharia law requirements imposed on women throughout the country.
According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, this job termination has been documented in its latest human rights report covering the last quarter of 2023.
