First UN-Sponsored Talks on Afghanistan With Taliban Conclude in Qatar

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Facts

• A two-day, UN-sponsored meeting between the Taliban and the international community concluded on Monday in Doha, Qatar—the first time the Taliban has taken part in the talks surrounding the status of Afghanistan.¹
• The Taliban entered the talks seeking a loosening of financial sanctions, such as the release of $7B in frozen assets, while international participants encouraged the Taliban to meet international obligations on such issues as women's rights and drug trafficking.²
• The meeting marked the third round of Doha talks on Afghanistan. The Taliban had previously refused to participate unless Afghan women and civil society representatives were excluded, a request which was granted this time around.³
• After taking power in 2021, the Taliban has yet to be formally recognized by any sovereign state. Its treatment of women has been described by the UN as 'gender apartheid,' with an EU envoy saying the removal of its sanctions would be contingent on such human rights issues.⁴
• While no commitments were made, a Taliban spokesman said there was a 'spirit of cooperation' at the talks adding that human rights are solely a domestic concern. Civil society groups had a separate UN-sponsored meeting on Tuesday after the talks concluded.³
• The EU dignitary said the talks had been a 'good starting point' for expanding trade and economic stability for Afghanistan, adding that the Taliban suggested interest in holding further talks.¹

Sources: ¹Doha News, ²Al Jazeera, ³Barrons and ⁴The Express Tribune.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Human Rights Watch. To hold talks in Afghanistan that don't take into account the Taliban's uniquely egregious disregard for human rights is laughable. The concerns of women and other minority groups were completely sidelined from the discussions, even though the isolation of the Taliban is due to their callous disregard for them. It's shocking that the UN would placate this monstrous regime and give them an ounce of legitimacy in Doha.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by AL. Progress occurs somewhere between idealism and realism, and it's too easy to pontificate about the Taliban without making any effort to engage with them. While the world is greatly concerned about the status of women in Afghanistan, the West must treat the Taliban as any other de facto government if they want to see change. Politics is a game of give-and-take, and the world must meet the regime on their terms as political actors.

Predictions