In May 2023, the first Doha meeting on Afghanistan took place without inviting the Taliban. For Doha II, last February, they refused the invitation, claiming to be the only representatives of their country. This time, they will honor with their presence the third part of this conference in the capital of Qatar. THE “real start of a process”, hopes the UN.
It must be said that the masters of Afghanistan since 2021 seem to have won their case: Afghan civil society will not have a say in the matter until Tuesday, July 2, the day after official discussions between the Taliban, the UN and around twenty countries including the United States. “If there are Afghans participating through different channels, it means our nation is not unified”declared on June 29 to the press in Kabul Zabihullah Mujahid, government spokesperson who will take the Taliban delegation to Doha.
“Legitimizing the system of gender-based oppression”
But in the eyes of Agnès Callamard, head of Amnesty International, “Complying with the Taliban’s conditions to ensure their participation risks legitimizing their system of institutionalized gender-based oppression”. Since taking over Kabul in the summer of 2021, the Taliban have banned girls from secondary and university education, parks, gyms and some jobs. A « apartheid of the genre » for the UN. “To sideline substantive human rights issues would be unacceptable and would set an extremely damaging precedent.”hammers home Agnès Callamard in a press release.
Afghan diplomats and activists also denounced the absence of angry subjects on the agenda. The Taliban government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs insists: it will participate precisely because the discussions will mainly focus on banking issues and the development of the private sector. Two crucial areas for Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries in the world and also among the most vulnerable to climate change. Means of replacing poppy cultivation among farmers will also be discussed.
“We recognize that there are issues regarding women”
As for human rights, the Taliban, who have banned all political parties, repeat over and over again that the rights of all citizens are guaranteed by Islamic law, of which they apply an ultra-rigorous version. “We recognize that there are issues regarding women”said Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman. But “these are Afghan questions” and that’s why, “We are working to find a sensible path to solutions inside Afghanistan”. And to add: “If the economy was doing well, then all the other problems could be solved. »
Twelve female politicians from around the world have denounced an exclusion “shocking” women, contrary to the UN charter. Activists call on participants to boycott Doha III and for protests in several countries. Because some are already reluctant: a letter from the G7+ countries to the UN, consulted by AFP, tells them ” disappointment “ as to the Doha III agenda.
“To discuss is not to recognize”
“This is not an inter-Afghan dialogue, retorts UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo. We hope one day, but we’re not there. » Responding to the accusations in legitimation, she hammered home again in front of the press in New York: “This is not a meeting to recognize, nor a meeting leading to recognition” of Taliban power. “To discuss is not to recognize.”
However, for Nader Nadery, a researcher at the Wilson Center based in Washington, “expect major progress from Doha (III) is illusory ». “Given past negotiations with the Taliban, contrary to what the international community thinks, they see each meeting as an isolated event and not as a step in a longer process”, deciphers the one who once negotiated with the Taliban on behalf of the previous power in Afghanistan. With this conference, “they record a new success in their desire to force the international community to agree to meet them under the conditions that they themselves pose”continues Mr. Nadery.
In fact, just a few days ago, the head of Taliban diplomacy, Amir Khan Muttaqi, considered that the invitation to Doha showed that “the international community understands more and more every day the importance and status of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”.
