At a historic U.N.-led conference in Qatar, the Taliban calls for an end to financial sanctions and greater international cooperation, while dismissing concerns over women’s rights as policy differences.
In a historic two-day United Nations-led conference, special envoys for Afghanistan from nearly two dozen countries gathered to discuss international engagement with the Taliban. The militant group, participating in such a forum for the first time since taking control of Afghanistan in August 2021, called for an end to financial sanctions and urged greater cooperation with the West, while dismissing restrictions on women’s freedoms as mere policy differences.
The conference, presided over by U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, marked a significant step in the “Doha process” initiated by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres a year ago. Despite facing intense criticism for excluding women’s rights activists, the U.N. ensured the Taliban’s attendance by not inviting these activists to the official event.
Leading the Taliban delegation, Zabihullah Mujahid, chief spokesperson of the Taliban’s interim government, implored the international community to unfreeze Afghan funds and lift banking sanctions. He argued that these financial restrictions were impeding Afghanistan’s economic progress. The U.S. froze $7 billion of Afghan central bank funds following the Taliban’s takeover, with half placed in a Switzerland-based trust account managed by a board, and the remaining locked in the U.S.
Mujahid did not address the Taliban’s controversial bans on girls’ education and women’s employment directly. Instead, he framed these issues as cultural and religious differences, calling for a separation of Afghanistan’s internal matters from foreign relations. He emphasized the Taliban’s desire for engagement with Western countries, similar to their growing bilateral ties with Russia, China, and others.
The conference, attended by representatives from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and delegates from countries including Russia, Saudi Arabia, India, and Uzbekistan, saw the Taliban engaging in bilateral meetings prior to the formal talks. Despite no country recognizing the Taliban government, 16 countries maintain diplomatic missions in Afghanistan, with Beijing having exchanged ambassadors with Kabul.
Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, Asif Durrani, noted the Taliban’s attendance as a positive sign, showing the U.N.’s ability to facilitate dialogue. However, global rights groups criticized the U.N. for excluding Afghan women from the event. Delegates from Western countries, while raising concerns about women’s rights and the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, also acknowledged the necessity of engaging with the Taliban in a structured manner.
The conference is set to continue with discussions on improving Afghanistan’s private business sector, exploring entrepreneurship, job creation, Islamic finance, and market access. Talks will also address the impact of the Taliban’s ban on opium poppy cultivation, focusing on alternative livelihoods for poppy farmers.
Despite the criticisms, the Taliban appeared optimistic about the outcome. “The views of all countries seem positive about Afghanistan,” Mujahid stated, expressing hope for strengthened international relations.
Post-conference, U.N. representatives and delegates plan to meet with Afghan civil society activists, although the Taliban clarified that this would not equate to sharing the conference’s spotlight.
