Taliban snubs UN meeting on Afghanistan’s future

For the past two days, a United Nations-convened conference has been discussing the future of Afghanistan in Doha, the second such meeting since the Taliban seized power in August 2021. As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated yesterday, the country is currently locked in a “chicken or egg” situation. The Taliban want international recognition and integration, while rejecting outside intervention in the restriction of the rights of Afghan women and girls. The country remains a hotbed for terrorist activities. At the same time, the international community says until progress is made by the Taliban on human rights and terrorist activity, there will be no progress on recognition and integration. Guterres said he would begin an immediate consultation to appoint a UN special envoy who could work on breaking the stalemate. But the Taliban have previously voiced strong opposition to this idea – and didn’t even turn up to Doha after the UN refused requests including not to speak to Afghan women before the meeting.