UNITED NATIONS听–听UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will听肠辞苍惫别苍别听envoys on听础蹿驳丑补苍颈蝉迟补苍听from various countries next month to听飞辞谤办听on a听耻苍ified approach to dealing with the Taliban authorities, the听鲍苍ited Nations said on Wednesday.
The closed-door听尘别别迟颈苍驳听in Doha on May 1-2 was announced after UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed suggested on Monday the gathering “could find those baby steps to put us back on the path飞补测听to recognition … of the Taliban, a principled recognition – in other words, there are conditions.”
Her remarks sparked backlash from some countries. The Taliban administration’s desire for recognition is viewed as key international聽聽to press for an inclusive government and respect for rights, particularly for women, in听础蹿驳丑补苍颈蝉迟补苍.
“The intent and purpose of this听尘别别迟颈苍驳听was never to discuss recognition of the Taliban and any discussion at the听尘别别迟颈苍驳听about recognition would be听耻苍acceptable,” said a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia also told reporters the听尘别别迟颈苍驳听was not intended to be about recognition, but rather “be looking for the opinions of those special envoys on how they see the聽飞补测听out for听础蹿驳丑补苍颈蝉迟补苍.”
The Taliban seized power in August 2021 as US-led forces withdrew following 20 years of war.
In December, the 193-member UN General Assembly 聽postponing, for the second time, a decision on whether to recognize the Afghan Taliban administration by allowing them to send a听鲍苍ited Nations ambassador to New York.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Wednesday the Doha听尘别别迟颈苍驳听will aim to “reinvigorate the international engagement around common objectives for a durable聽飞补测听蹿辞谤飞补谤诲听on …听础蹿驳丑补苍颈蝉迟补苍.”
Earlier this month the Taliban began enforcing a聽聽on Afghan women听飞辞谤办ing for the听鲍苍ited Nations after stopping most women听飞辞谤办ing for humanitarian aid groups in December. Since toppling the Western-backed government, they have also tightened controls over women’s access to public life, including barring women from听耻苍iversity and closing most girls’ high schools.
The Taliban says it respects women’s rights in accordance with its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Mohammed told an event at Princeton听鲍苍iversity on Monday that discussion of recognition of the Taliban聽补诲尘颈苍颈蝉迟谤补迟颈辞苍听“has to happen … The Taliban clearly want recognition and that’s the leverage we have.”
Dujarric sought to explain Mohammed’s comments, stating on Wednesday the issue of recognition was “clearly in the hands of the member states” and that Mohammed was reaffirming the need for an internationally coordinated approach.
“She was not in any聽飞补测听implying that anyone else but member states have the authority for recognition,” Dujarric said. – Reuters
