Taliban attends UN meeting for the first time in Doha, meets top Indian government official
- In Reports
- 09:13 PM, Jul 01, 2024
- Myind Staff
The Taliban is participating in a United Nations (UN)-led meeting in Qatar’s Doha for the first time, beginning on June 30th, which has sparked criticism from women’s rights activists worldwide.
Interestingly, 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, met with Taliban representatives ahead of the meeting. During this interaction, discussions included the development of relations between India and Afghanistan. According to a statement from a Taliban government spokesperson, India expressed support for the Taliban’s stance at the Doha meeting, and in return, the Taliban acknowledged India's assistance to Afghanistan.
During the UN-led meeting on Afghanistan in Doha, the country's economy and the impact of Western sanctions were prominent topics of discussion. Discussions also addressed the threat posed by drug trafficking and other related issues. Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid highlighted that despite the regime's ban on poppy cultivation, there has been no movement towards easing international sanctions.
Coincidentally, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Doha a day before the UN meeting. During his visit, he held discussions with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. This trip marked Jaishankar's third visit overseas and his second to West Asia since assuming office for a second term earlier in June.
Ahead of the UN meeting, the Taliban engaged in talks with diplomatic delegations from Uzbekistan, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. According to a statement by the Taliban, Riyadh expressed a desire to reopen its embassy in Kabul "as soon as possible." Despite being economically constrained due to UN and Western sanctions, Afghanistan's central bank continues to have all its foreign reserves frozen. However, some neighbouring countries like Kazakhstan have removed the Taliban from their list of banned groups.
Reports suggest that the Russian Foreign Ministry is also contemplating a similar move. Additionally, China made history by becoming the first country to officially recognise an ambassador appointed by the Taliban regime in February of this year.
During his speech at the UN-led meeting in Doha on Monday, the Taliban spokesperson emphasised that economic orientation forms the core of their foreign policy.
"We appreciate the countries that provide humanitarian aid, however, the main solution to the economic obstacles of Afghans is to remove unilateral and multilateral sanctions," he stated. Highlighting their efforts, he added, "With our economically oriented foreign policy, we have facilitated regional connectivity through Afghanistan. The construction of a transportation railway from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan in the north will connect Central Asia with South Asia. Our respective entities are closely collaborating with Uzbekistan and Pakistan."
This statement underscores the Taliban's emphasis on leveraging economic diplomacy to foster regional connectivity and address Afghanistan's economic challenges amidst ongoing international sanctions.
Last July, a joint protocol for the 'Trans-Afghan project' was signed in Islamabad, aiming to establish a 700-km railway line connecting Uzbekistan's and Pakistan's railway networks through Afghanistan. Although progress has been slow, completion is projected for 2027. Other regional initiatives involving Afghanistan, such as the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) Pipeline, have encountered significant setbacks due to security challenges in the region.
"We perceive the current Doha meeting as a crucial opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue regarding the unilateral and multilateral sanctions imposed on some officials and our financial and banking sectors, as well as the broader challenges," stated Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid during his speech. He continued, "I do not deny that some countries may have concerns about certain policies of the Islamic Emirate. Policy differences among states are natural, and it is the responsibility of experienced diplomats to seek avenues for interaction and understanding rather than confrontation."
Mujahid's remarks reflect the Taliban's approach to addressing international concerns and advocating for dialogue to overcome sanctions and promote cooperation amidst differing policy perspectives.
Image Source: The Times of India
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