Amid concerns about restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan by international communities, Taliban Afghanistan pressed the international community to lift economic sanctions during the UN-hosted summit in Doha. This is the first time a Taliban delegation is attending the UN-hosted summit with special representatives to Afghanistan.
Delegations from Afghanistan and about 30 other countries arrived in Doha on Sunday to start a third round of United Nations-sponsored talks on integrating the South Asian country into the international community.
Led by Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Taliban discussed the restrictions on the country’s financial and banking systems, along with the narcotics sector in particular, resulting in the decline of the private sector in Afghanistan.
According to reports by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), poppy cultivation has dropped since the Taliban officially banned poppy farming in April 2022. Opium production has declined by 95 percent—from 233,000 hectares at the end of 2022 to 10,800 hectares in 2023—impacting the livelihood of four million people in Afghanistan, which makes up around 10 percent of its total population.
To address the decline in livelihoods, the Taliban has planned to provide alternative sources of income to those affected.
To accomplish these plans, the Taliban has demanded the lifting of sanctions on the country’s central bank reserves, which amount to about $7 billion and are frozen in the US.
During the summit, Mujahid asked, “Afghans are asking why they are being ganged up on the basis of unilateral and multilateral sanctions.” He questioned the ongoing sanctions as “fair practice” after “wars and insecurity for almost half a century as a result of foreign invasions and interference.”
Mujahid said diplomats should “find ways of interaction and understanding rather than confrontation,” despite “natural” differences in policy. “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is keen on engaging constructively with Western nations as well,” Mujahid said. “Like any sovereign state, we uphold certain religious and cultural values and public aspirations that must be acknowledged.”
In response, the international envoy emphasized that keeping women away from education and employment will impact the growth of the country. Since the Taliban’s return to power, most girls have been barred from high school and women from universities, thus hindering their growth.
Speaking after the Third Meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan, UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo expressed deep concern over the situation of women and girls in the country. “Running through all the discussions was the deep international concern—from special envoys and from me—about the ongoing and serious restrictions on women and girls.”
“Afghanistan cannot return to the international fold or fully develop economically and socially if it is deprived of the contributions and potential of half its population,” she added. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, DiCarlo said, “End of meeting between Special Envoys on Afghanistan and de facto authorities. Hope talks over the last two days will contribute to resolving some of the problems having such a devastating impact on the Afghan people. Emphasis on the rights of women and girls.”
During the meeting, Russia maintained its relations with Kabul, focusing on dropping sanctions by the UN for the development of Afghanistan. Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, said, “We’ve been saying consistently that you have to recognize this fact and deal with them as such because, whether you like it or not, this movement is running the country now. You cannot simply ignore that.”
In August 2021, the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan as US and NATO forces were in the final weeks of withdrawing their army from the country following two decades of war. As of now, the Taliban has received no approval from any country to officially form a government. The UN has deemed the recognition almost impossible as restrictions on women prevail in the country.
