Taliban attends UN meeting for the first time in Doha, meets top Indian govt official

 

The Taliban is participating in a United Nations (UN)-led meeting in Qatar’s Doha for the first time, which began on Sunday, triggering widespread criticism from women’s rights activists globally.

Notably, an Indian delegation led by senior diplomat J.P. Singh, who heads the Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA’s) Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran (PAI) Division, engaged with Taliban representatives ahead of the meeting. Discussions included the development of bilateral relations, where India expressed support for the Taliban’s stance at the Doha meeting. In return, the Taliban acknowledged India’s assistance to Afghanistan, as per a statement from the Taliban government spokesperson.

The UN-led meeting focused on Afghanistan’s economy and the impact of Western sanctions, alongside discussions on drug trafficking and other pertinent issues. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid highlighted that despite the regime’s ban on poppy cultivation, there had been no progress in easing international sanctions.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Doha just before the UN meeting, holding talks with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. This marked Jaishankar’s third foreign visit and second to West Asia since assuming office again in June.

Ahead of the UN meeting, the Taliban also held discussions with diplomatic delegations from Uzbekistan, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. The Taliban announced that Saudi Arabia expressed interest in reopening its embassy in Kabul promptly.

Despite economic constraints imposed by the UN and Western nations, some neighboring countries like Kazakhstan have delisted the Taliban as a prohibited group. Reports suggest Russia may follow suit, while China became the first country to officially recognize an ambassador appointed by the Taliban earlier this year.

Addressing the UN-led meeting in Doha, the Taliban spokesperson emphasized an "economic orientation" in their foreign policy, advocating for the removal of unilateral and multilateral sanctions as essential for Afghanistan’s economic recovery. He highlighted regional connectivity projects, including a railway linking Uzbekistan and Pakistan via Afghanistan, scheduled for completion by 2027 despite ongoing security challenges.

The spokesperson underscored the importance of constructive dialogue to address sanctions on Afghan officials and financial sectors, stressing diplomacy over confrontation in managing policy differences among states.