The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is expected to announce the next phase of the Doha process during a Security Council meeting on Monday, according to a Council statement released ahead of the session.
Roza Otunbayeva, the U.N. Secretary-General’s special representative for Afghanistan, is likely to confirm that two working group meetings will be held in Doha on June 29 and 30. These sessions will focus on counter-narcotics efforts and private sector development, bringing together U.N. officials, international experts, Taliban representatives, and global organizations, including financial bodies.
The upcoming Security Council meeting will also address broader issues such as how to approach the Taliban government, the threat posed by extremist groups — notably Islamic State Khorasan — Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, and the continued erosion of women’s rights.
Following Monday’s public session, private consultations between Council members and U.N. officials are scheduled. The report notes that several members are expected to call for greater inclusion of women in the Doha process and diplomatic engagement.
The question of how to engage with the Taliban remains contentious among the Council’s five permanent members. The United States, France and Britain have maintained that recognition of the Taliban must be contingent on their adherence to international obligations, especially human rights. Russia and China, by contrast, have urged increased engagement without preconditions and have advocated for Taliban access to economic assistance.
Amid these tensions, UNAMA has advanced what it calls the “Mosaic” approach — a shift from the previous demand for a fully inclusive government to broader language promoting “inclusive governance.” This rhetorical adjustment has appeared in recent statements, including the communiqué from a European Union–hosted ministerial meeting.
The Council report also highlights concerns about the Taliban’s morality policing under the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the impact of recent U.S. aid cuts, and the urgency of maintaining human rights, especially women’s participation, at the center of diplomatic discussions.
As Afghanistan continues to face political instability and international isolation, the Doha process remains one of the few multilateral efforts aiming to address the country’s future — even as consensus on how to move forward remains elusive.
