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DOHA, Qatar \u2014 The Taliban sent a defiant message to Western nations, donors and Afghan women\u2019s groups this week, refusing to attend a conference hosted by the United Nations to discuss humanitarian crises facing Afghanistan and cooperation on human rights issues.<\/p>\n
The two-day conference, which began on Sunday, was the second of its kind. It was held to try to chart a course forward for international engagement with the country. But the Taliban took issue with the inclusion of some groups at the meeting. Attended by special envoys from 25 countries and regional organizations, the conference is aimed at increasing international engagement with Afghanistan and developing a more coordinated response to the problems afflicting the war-torn nation.<\/p>\n
The Taliban, the de facto rulers of Afghanistan since 2021, had been invited to the conference but at the last minute the group said it would not attend. In a statement, the Taliban\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it should be the sole official representative of Afghanistan for talks with the international community and only then could engage in frank discussions. Inclusion of others would hinder progress, the statement added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis government of Afghanistan cannot be coerced by anyone,\u201d it stated.<\/p>\n
Representatives from Afghan civil society, women\u2019s groups, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the European Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization were present at the conference. Afghan political opposition parties, including the National Resistance Front, which has a small armed wing, were not invited, although they had asked to be included.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The Taliban\u2019s decision, announced on the eve of the conference, appeared to have been made to avoid awkward conversations with Afghans living outside the country who oppose the Taliban\u2019s exclusion of women, and political opponents inside Afghanistan, several delegates said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Taliban\u2019s refusal to participate in the Doha Conference and engage in a meaningful dialogue with all sides, especially the brave women of Afghanistan, shows the group\u2019s lack of interest in seeking a durable political settlement,\u201d Fawzia Koofi, a former member of the Afghan parliament, said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was hopeful until last night,\u201d said Mahbouba Seraj, a women\u2019s rights advocate. \u201cWe are divided into two halves. it is impossible to have half of Afghanistan here and half over in Afghanistan.\u201d<\/p>\n
She criticized the Taliban for complaining that it was \u201cunreasonable\u201d to have Afghans who were not members of the Taliban included in the conference.<\/p>\n
Human rights groups and political opponents of the Taliban, which has declared the country an Islamic Emirate, say the Afghan government should allow a pluralistic political system and include women and ethnic minorities in its government.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n