From Isolation to Dialogue: The Taliban’s Engagement with the UN in Doha

The Afghan Taliban government recently had talks with UN representatives in Doha to discuss future cooperation. This meeting, which took place on Sunday, was the third of its kind in just over a year and marked the first time that representatives of the Taliban government were present.

During the two-day event, UN representatives met separately with Taliban representatives and envoys from various countries. More than 20 diplomats, including the US special representative for Afghanistan, were also in attendance. The Taliban’s delegation was led by spokesman Sabihullah Mudshahid.

Following the withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban assumed power in the country and declared an Islamic Emirates. However, their government is not recognized by any country or international organization, leading to isolation and sanctions. The Taliban enforce a strict form of Islamic Sharia law, particularly impacting the rights of women and girls.

The discussions in Doha are expected to focus on increasing dialogue with Afghanistan and improving coordination towards the country, including economic issues and drug control measures. The Taliban, who were excluded from previous talks, have now met the condition to participate, allowing for a more comprehensive dialogue.

Civil society groups from Afghanistan will not attend the official meeting but will engage with UN representatives separately, indicating a broad effort to address various aspects of cooperation and development.