Doha, 19 Feb.2024

United Nations-led second 2-day international conference ended on Monday with consensus on the goals Taliban rulers must meet but little progress on how the world should coordinate engagement with the unrecognized government.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres convened special representatives to Afghanistan from 25 countries as well as the European Union (EU), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held in Doha, Capital city of host country Qatar.

Speaking to journalists on conclusion of second UN 2-day conference of special envoys for Afghanistan, António Guterres said that there was consensus among delegates over what needs to happen, although the Taliban are not taking part.

“We want an Afghanistan in peace, peace with itself and peace with its neighbours and able to assume the commitments and the international obligations of a sovereign State … in relation to the international community, its neighbours and in relation to the rights of its own populations,” he said.

The Taliban refused to attend Second UN Conference on Afghanistan, saying participation was ‘unbeneficial’ if the U.N. did not see them as the sole representatives of Afghanistan. Guterres said that conditions the Taliban had placed were unacceptable.

Guterres told members of media that Rosemary di Carlo, U.N. Undersecretary-General for political and peace building affairs, met separately with a Taliban representative from the group’s Doha-based political office.

He rejected the notion that the U.N. failed to bring Afghanistan’s de facto rulers to the table because of ineffective communication, saying the “These conditions, first of all, denied us the right to talk to other representatives of the Afghan society and demanded a treatment that would, I would say, to a large extent be similar to recognition,” Guterres said.

He urged on urgent need for an end to restrictions imposed by the Taliban de facto authorities on women and girls in Afghanistan.

There was also consensus on the process to reach this objective, he added, noting proposals outlined in an independent review on an integrated and coherent approach conducted by Feridun Sinirloglu in line with Security Council resolution 2679..

Key concerns

Guterres mentioned about the main areas of concern, first  ensuring Afghanistan does not become a ‘hotbed’ of terrorist activity,  and that it has inclusive institutions in which all its diverse groups feel represented in a ‘truly inclusive’ State.

Moreover, importance of upholding human rights, in particular for women and girls, and a recognition of the progress made in combating drug production and drug trafficking.

The UN chief also underscored the need for effective humanitarian assistance to the country as well as long-term questions on Afghanistan’s future development.

He further noted ongoing cooperation between Afghanistan and neighboring countries, such as trade and infrastructure development or bilateral arrangements on combating illicit drug trade.

Key questions

He said that however, there are a set of key questions ‘in which we are stuck’, ‘On one hand, Afghanistan remains with a government that is not recognized internationally and in many aspects not integrated in the global institutions and global economy’,  he added.

“To a certain extent we are in the kind of situation of the chicken or the egg,” he said, stating the need to overcome the deadlock and produce a common road map which addresses international concerns and those of the de facto authorities simultaneously’.

On another question, Mr. Guterres said the meeting was very useful and the discussions were “absolutely needed”.

“Obviously it would be better if we would also have the opportunity after the meeting ... to discuss our conclusions with the de facto authorities. It did not happen today; it will happen in the near future.”

He announced that such meetings by UN will continue in future also.