The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said Tuesday that working group meetings underway in Doha around narcotics control and private sector development are helping identify “further priorities for engagement” with the Taliban.
The two-day meetings, which began Monday, June 30, bring together technical experts and representatives from UN agencies, international organizations, Taliban officials, and member states. The sessions are part of the ongoing Doha Process and follow recommendations made in a 2023 independent review led by Feridun Sinirlioğlu for the UN Security Council.
“These working group meetings highlight progress made in supporting Afghanistan’s private sector and in counter-narcotics efforts, while identifying further priorities for engagement with the de facto authorities,” UNAMA said in a statement.
UNAMA emphasized that the gatherings are part of a more structured, coordinated framework intended “to benefit the people of Afghanistan.”
Taliban have sent a seven-member delegation to Doha, including their officials from the ministries of public health, foreign affairs, interior, and agriculture. Participants include Enamullah Hammad, director of the Taliban’s national drug treatment program, and Hedayatullah Oria Khel, a senior health adviser.
According to a statement from Taliban’s foreign ministry, discussions have centered on joint efforts to curb opium cultivation and narcotics production—areas where the Taliban seeks international cooperation and technical support.
Critics, however, have voiced concern over the direction of the talks. Some argue that the discussions prioritize issues that align with the Taliban’s agenda, such as drug control and economic development, while ignoring broader concerns about governance, human rights, and political inclusion.
Human rights advocates have warned against legitimizing the Taliban without addressing their ongoing repression of women and civil society. “Engagement must not come at the cost of ignoring the fundamental rights and voices of the Afghan people,” one analyst said.
The Doha Process is part of a wider international effort to maintain dialogue with the Taliban-led administration, which has yet to receive formal recognition. The international community has asked the Taliban to respect human rights, especially the rights of women, if they want to move forward towards recognition.
