Oslo: A Taliban delegation led by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki began on Sunday Talks He focused on human rights with members of Afghan civil society ahead of his much-anticipated meetings with Western officials in Oslo.
The delegation dedicated the first day of its three-day visit to talks with women’s rights activists and human rights defenders from Afghanistan and the Afghan diaspora.
Meetings are taking place behind closed doors at the Soria Morea Hotel in the snow-capped mountains above the Norwegian capital, as Norway, which has played a mediating role in Middle East and Colombian conflicts in the past, is facilitating these talks.
Ahead of the talks, the Taliban’s deputy minister for culture and information tweeted a voice message from Mr Muttaki, expressing ‘hope for a good trip full of achievements’ and thanking Norway, a country he hoped would be. Will become a ‘gateway to positive relationships’. Europe’. This is the first time since the Taliban took power in August that their representatives have held official meetings in Europe. Prior to this, he traveled to Qatar, Russia, Iran, China and Turkmenistan. During the talks, Muttaki will push for the Taliban’s demand that the assets confiscated by the US and other Western countries be released as Afghanistan faces a precarious humanitarian situation.
The humanitarian and economic situation in Afghanistan has worsened over the past five months as no country in the West has yet recognized the Taliban government. About 80 percent of the war-torn country’s budget was financed by international aid until August last year when foreign troops left Afghanistan, while the US has since seized $9.5 billion in Afghan assets.
The Taliban was ousted by a US-led coalition in 2001, but regained power after a hasty withdrawal by international forces. International aid came to an abrupt halt after the Taliban takeover, worsening the plight of millions who were already starving after several severe droughts.
Norway’s Foreign Minister Aniken Huitfeld stressed that the talks “will not represent the legitimacy or recognition of the Taliban. But we must speak to the country’s de facto authorities. We will not allow the political situation to escalate to a worse humanitarian disaster.” can give.”
Meanwhile, several dozen demonstrators protested outside Norway’s foreign ministry, chanting “not the Taliban”, “Taliban terrorists” and “Afghan is alive”. AFP The journalist present on the spot informed.
On Monday, the Taliban will meet with representatives from the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Italy and the European Union, while Tuesday will be devoted to bilateral talks with Norwegian officials.
A US delegation, led by Special Representative for Afghanistan Tom West, plans to discuss the formation of a representative political system; responses to immediate humanitarian and economic crises; security and counter-terrorism concerns; and human rights, especially education for girls and women, according to a statement issued by the US State Department.
In an interview with Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid AFP On Saturday, he said he hoped the talks would help.Change An atmosphere of war… in a peaceful state.” Joining the delegation from Kabul is Haqqani Network leader Anas Haqqani, who does not hold any formal government title. He was outside Kabul before being released on a prisoner exchange in 2019. He was behind bars for several years in the US Bagram Detention Center.
‘collective punishment’
The international community is waiting to see how the Taliban wants to govern after being accused of human rights trampling during their first term in power between 1996 and 2001.
While the Taliban have claimed modernisation, women are still largely excluded from public sector employment and most secondary schools for girls are closed.
Unemployment is skyrocketing and salaries of civil servants are pending for months. According to the United Nations, hunger now threatens 23 million Afghans.
“It would be a mistake to hand over the people of Afghanistan to one” collective punishment Just because the real authorities are not behaving properly,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday.
‘gender apartheid’
Nargis Nehan, a former Mines and Patrol Minister who now lives in Norway, said she had declined an invitation to attend the Oslo talks.
He said AFP He feared that the talks would “normalize the Taliban and… strengthen them, while there is no way to change them.” “What is the guarantee this time that they will keep their promises?” He asked.
Dawood Moradian, head of the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies based out of Afghanistan, criticized Norway’s “celebrity-style” peace initiatives.
He said hosting a Taliban foreign minister casts doubt on Norway’s global image as a country that cares about women’s rights, when the Taliban have effectively established gender apartheid.
However, Norway has played a mediating role in many conflicts, including in the Middle East, Sri Lanka and Colombia.
Published in Dawn, January 24, 2022
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