Delegates from across Afghanistan arrived in the capital Kabul on Wednesday for a conference of religious scholars scheduled to discuss important issues.
Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said at a news conference in Kabul that about 3,000 scholars, tribal elders and influential figures would attend the grand event on Thursday.
Mujahid said several committees had been formed to make arrangements and an announcement would be made at the end of the three-day-long meeting.
An invitee told don.com That participants will discuss all important issues, including the reopening of girls’ schools above the sixth grade, the establishment of the Taliban, and respect for human rights.
The Taliban have yet to open girls’ high schools, despite their earlier announcement to do so. provoked criticism Inside and outside Afghanistan.
First Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar visited the “Loya Jirga Hall” and instructed officials to take measures for better management of the grand gathering.
Taliban organizers had not released a formal agenda for the summit until Wednesday night.
Two scholars and tribal elders were invited from each district and an equal number of people were invited from the big cities.
It will be the first major gathering since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August and is seen as an attempt by the group to gain scholarly support for internal recognition.
A similar gathering of religious scholars was held in the mid-1990s, which had declared allegiance to then Taliban founder Mullah Omar and also supported the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
No country has yet recognized the current Taliban government, which came to power after the US withdrawal last year.
Senior Afghan leaders, including former President Hamid Karzai and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, former chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, have called for the current system to be more inclusive.
Meanwhile, women activists held a press conference in Kabul calling for women to be represented in the convention. She said women constitute half of the population in Afghanistan and it is unfair to ignore them.
When asked about the matter, Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi said that the male representatives would represent the women.
“Women are our mothers, sisters, we have a lot of respect for them. When their sons are in the gathering it means they are also involved in a way,” he said.
Civil society groups have said the meeting would lack legitimacy if women were not included.
unprecedented security
Kabul has come under a protective cover and all roads have been closed for the “Loya Jirga” – literally “grand gathering” in Pashto), as well as the establishment of new check posts and the establishment of Taliban intelligence officers and policemen. Deployment has also been done.
Media is not allowed to attend the conference and report from the venue. However, the Taliban will hold a daily briefing to apprise the media of the deliberations.
Additional input from Reuters.