A U.N. source confirmed on Friday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has not invited the Taliban administration to a meeting with special envoys from other countries in Doha next week.
According to United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, “The Secretary-General has not extended an invitation to the de facto authorities.”
After comments made by the United Nations deputy secretary-general caused concern and confusion last week, the UN had to reiterate that the meeting’s focus would not be on possible international recognition of the Taliban administration.
Dujarric, on the other hand, has said that the conference in Qatar on Monday and Tuesday would seek to renew “international engagement around common objectives for a sustainable way forward on…Afghanistan.”
According to Amina Mohammed, the UN’s second-in-command behind Antonio Guterres, the Doha meeting “could find those baby steps to put us back on the pathway to recognition.”
After 20 years of fighting, US-led soldiers left in August 2021, handing up power to the Taliban. In December, the 193-member United Nations General Assembly postponed a decision on whether to recognize the Afghan Taliban government and accept an ambassador from the organization.
On Thursday, the United Nations Security Council unanimously condemned the Taliban government’s prohibition on women working for the UN in Afghanistan. The council also urged the Taliban to “swiftly reverse” a crackdown on women’s and girls’ rights.
The Taliban maintains that its interpretation of Islamic law protects women’s rights. Taliban officials have said that the decision to allow female humanitarian workers is an “internal issue.”
