The third meeting on Afghanistan to take place in Doha at the end of June

The UN announced that the third meeting on Afghanistan with the participation of special representatives of the countries will be held in Doha. The meeting, according to the United Nations Organization, is scheduled from June 30 to July 1.

The purpose of the meeting is to “increase international engagement with Afghanistan in a consistent and structured manner.”

As Afghanistan International reports, the Afghan delegation led by Taliban Foreign Minister Amirkhan Muttaqi has been invited to this meeting.

He was invited to a meeting in Doha by UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo. She met with Taliban representatives in Kabul from May 18 to 21.

At meetings with the Under-Secretary-General, the Afghan side, emphasized that “any strategy for international interaction with Afghanistan must take into account the humanitarian, development and economic issues faced by Afghanistan.”

Meanwhile, according to the agency, senior Taliban representative Mohammed Abdulkabir said that the participation of the Afghan delegation in the third meeting in Doha depends “on the recognition of the status of the Taliban.”

The previous meeting of the countries on Afghanistan was also held in Doha in February of this year. As reported by Hasht-e-Subh Daily, the Taliban refused to participate.

The Taliban then named two conditions for their participation in the Qatar meeting:

- the Taliban delegation should be the only representative of Afghanistan at the forum;

- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres must enter into direct negotiations with the movement.

Since there was no agreement from the organizers, the Taliban decided to boycott the conference.

The Taliban also opposed the appointment of a UN special representative for Afghanistan, whereas the second day of the conference in Doha was specifically dedicated to this procedure.

The meeting itself took place behind closed doors that time. Representatives of almost 20 countries participated, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia, the USA, EU countries and others. Representatives of civil society and women of Afghanistan were also invited to participate in the conference.

Prior to this, a meeting on Afghanistan under the auspices of the UN was held on May 1, 2023. A a report and recommendations were prepared and then discussed at the February meeting.