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The talks, scheduled for June 30 and July 1 in Doha, have not been without controversy, with Afghan civil society groups also voicing their concerns.
After months of deliberations, the Taliban government said it would send a delegation to the two-day UN conference on Afghanistan in Doha.
The Taliban in February rejected an invitation to attend the second round of talks, which were scheduled for June 30 and July 1.
The talks will be a critical moment for all parties as it will be the first time the Taliban will attend a meeting of international envoys on Afghanistan since UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres launched the process more than a year ago.
Taliban chief spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid Tell An Afghan television station said the Afghan government decided to attend the meeting because it was in Afghanistan’s interests.
“God willing, we will announce the composition of the delegation later. We believe it will be in the interest of Afghanistan,” Mujahid said.
Mujahid did not mention any of the Taliban’s conditions, saying only that they considered any meeting to promote humanitarian aid and investment in Afghanistan vital.
Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Barshi said in an official statement that the decision to attend the upcoming meeting in Doha stems from two months of discussions between them and the United Nations on the agenda and the list of participants.
“If there are any changes in the agenda and engagement, that will naturally affect our decision, which we will share with all parties at that time,” Barshi said.
In May, the United Nations comfirmed Representatives of Afghan civil society will attend the third Doha conference.
Civil society groups, including women, were invited to a second round of talks in February, but the Taliban government refused to attend unless its members were fully representative of Afghanistan.
Guterres dismissed those conditions because the international community does not recognize the Taliban government and because many of its key leaders remain subject to U.N. terrorism-related sanctions.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: “I have received a letter from the Taliban which sets out a series of unacceptable conditions for attending this conference.” explain During a media surveillance in February.
“These conditions deny us the right to dialogue with other representatives of Afghan society and demand treatment that largely resembles recognition.”
Since taking over power in August 2021, the Taliban has implemented restrictive policies against women and girls, despite initial Promises of more open rules When they are in power.
Girls aged 12 and over are prohibited from attending secondary school in Afghanistan, and women are banned from public and private workplaces.
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