Taliban Sets Conditions for Participation in Doha Meeting

The caretaker government of Afghanistan has reportedly outlined two conditions for its involvement in the upcoming Doha meeting, as communicated in a letter to the United Nations representative in Afghanistan.

Firstly, the caretaker government insists on arranging a meeting between Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Motaghi, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, aiming for a thorough, transparent, and comprehensive discussion concerning the letter from Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, head of Afghanistan’s caretaker cabinet.

Secondly, the Taliban stipulate that, given Afghanistan’s current governance structure under a central and unified administration, only the delegation led by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs should represent the country at the Doha meeting. The Taliban assert that no other Afghan representatives, including members of civil society and women, should be present.

These conditions arise amidst reports suggesting the presence of Afghan civil society members, including women, at the Doha meeting, prompting the Taliban to assert their terms and conditions.