Taliban participates in the 3rd UN Conference on Afghanistan at Doha

For the first time, the Taliban, who rules Afghanistan, participated in the United Nations Conference on Afghanistan. The third United Nations Conference on Afghanistan was held in Doha, the capital of  Qatar, on 30 June and 1 July 2024. However, the conference ended without any substantial progress on its agenda

Participants in the Conference

The conference, organised by the United Nations, was attended by special representatives of 25 countries and International organisations, including the European Union, the Organisation of Islamic Countries (IOC), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO). 

India was represented by the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, J P Singh.

The Taliban was represented by the Taliban government chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who attended the first and second conferences on  Afghanistan, was not present this time. Rosemary DiCarlo, the undersecretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, represented the United Nations.

Taliban attends the UN Conference for the first time 

Taliban was not invited to the first United Nations Conference on Afghanistan held in Doha in May 2023. 

Taliban refused to attend the second United Nations Conference on Afghanistan held in February 2024 in Doha.  According to Antonio Guterres, the Taliban set preconditions for the talk, which was not acceptable. The Taliban demanded that members of the Afghan civil society members shall not be invited to the conference and that the Taliban be treated as the country’s sole legitimate ruler.

However, during the third United Nations Conference on Afghanistan, the representatives of the Afghan Civil Society were not invited.

Agenda of the Doha Talk 

According to the United Nations, the conference is an ongoing effort of the international community to bring peace to Afghanistan and to engage the rulers of Afghanistan with the international community on issues like women’s rights, girl's education and human rights. 

Issue of Women's Rights in Afghanistan 

Since coming into power in 2021, the Taliban has implemented strict Islamic rules in the country. Strict restrictions have been put on the education and movement of females in the country. 

In the country, girls' schools above sixth grade have been closed, and they are not allowed to pursue higher education.

The Taliban has banned the employment of women. 

A strict Islamic dress code has been imposed on women, requiring women to be covered head-to-toe, with only their eyes visible. They are not allowed to move outside their house alone.

International Recognition of the Taliban Regime 

Taliban, which means student in the Pashto language, is an Islamic militant group that overthrew the Ashraf Gani government and captured Kabul on 15 August 2021.

This happened after the withdrawal of the American troops from Afghanistan.  

No country in the world, including India, recognises the Taliban government in Afghanistan. China has reopened its embassy in Kabul, but it doesn't officially recognise the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. 

The Taliban government is seen as a hardline Islamic government which has links with various Islamic militant groups that pose a threat to a number of its neighbouring countries. 

About Afghanistan 

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South Asia, surrounded by India, Pakistan, China, Iran, and the Central Asian states of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

Capital: Kabul

Currency: Afghani

Supreme Leader:Hibatullah Akhundzada of Taliban.