JEDDAH: Taliban authorities at a UN-hosted summit in Doha on Monday demanded relief from international economic sanctions imposed since they they seized power in Afghanistan in 2021.
“Afghans are asking why they are being ganged up on, on the basis of unilateral and multilateral sanctions ... after wars and insecurity for almost half a century as a result of foreign invasions and interference,” delegation chief Zabihullah Mujahid said.
The talks are being held to discuss increasing global engagement with Afghanistan and a more coordinated response, including economic issues and counter-narcotics efforts. The Taliban regime in Kabul has not been officially recognized by any other government.
UN official Rosemary DiCarlo, who chaired the talks, dismissed the Taliban complaints. “It’s a member state issue whether they continue certain sanctions or not,” she said. “The sanctions are on people, not on the country.”
DiCarlo also told the Taliban that women must be included in public life in Afghanistan. Rights groups had strongly criticised a controversial UN move to exclude Afghan women’s rights activists from the two-day summit as the price for the Taliban’s participation.
“Authorities will not sit across the table with Afghan civil society in this format, but they have heard very clearly the need to include women and civil society in all aspects of public life,” DiCarlo said.
International delegations met civil society representatives, including women’s rights groups, after the close of Monday’s main meetings.
