A senior diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Amu that the likelihood of Taliban participation in the third Doha meeting, scheduled for June 30, is high, while the invitation of civil society representatives has yet to be finalized.
According to the source, the third Doha meeting will not discuss the appointment of a special representative for Afghanistan, or this discussion may be postponed.
In statements issued after meetings in Kabul with the UN deputy, Taliban said the main topics of discussion in the upcoming Doha meeting will be fighting drugs, climate change and other related issues.
According to these statements, UN deputy chief Rosemary DiCarlo referred to the Doha meeting as a “process.”
Based on statements published by the Taliban, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister, requested Afghanistan’s representation at the United Nations during a meeting with DiCarlo. However, DiCarlo reportedly did not respond positively to this request.
The United Nations has announced that the third Doha meeting will be held on June 30.
Some citizens expect this meeting to pave the way for improving human rights conditions in Afghanistan.
“The Doha meeting should focus on the demands of the Afghan people. Girls’ access to education, human rights, and the country’s welfare should be the main focus,” said Mohammadullah, a Kabul resident.
Yasser Ahmadi, another Kabul resident, said, “Civil society representatives should be present at the Doha meeting because the Taliban do not represent all the people of Afghanistan.”
A women’s rights activist also stated that the world should not “sacrifice the demands of the Afghan people” in dealing with the Taliban.
“The world should not ignore the voices of Afghan women or sacrifice their legitimate demands in dealing with the Taliban. Engaging with the Taliban means trampling on human rights values,” said Shahnaz Jasoor, a women’s rights activist.
These comments come as a Qatari delegation visited Kabul and met with Taliban officials.
Taliban stated that Qatar’s minister of state for foreign affairs told their deputy chief minister Abdul Kabir that the Doha meeting would not be effective without Taliban participation. The Taliban said they were invited to attend the meeting.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not commented on this matter but stated that the Qatari delegation urged the Taliban to “protect” human rights in Afghanistan.
All countries that participated in the second Doha meeting have been invited to the third.
In addition to country representatives, a five-member delegation representing Afghan civil society attended the second Doha meeting. However, the Taliban opposed the presence of civil society representatives.
It is still unclear whether civil society representatives will participate in the third Doha meeting.
